Footbridge on track to return

Engineers have already fitted the support columns at the Codsall station near Wolverhampton, with the new structure set to be put in place over the track in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The original Grade-II listed Victorian structure was struck by a road vehicle with a metal arm as it unloaded a delivery two years ago.

When the arm hit the bridge, which had stood at the station since 1883, it collapsed, drawing crowds from across the village.

Rail fans feared the original Great Western structure would be replaced with a modern bridge. But Network Rail always insisted it wanted to keep it as close to the original design as possible.

The new landmark is now in its completed state at a workshop in Cheshire and is ready to be returned to Codsall.

Network Rail spokeswoman Hazel Moss said: "We are very pleased Codsall station is finally getting its bridge back this weekend. A lot of hard work has gone into restoring it to its former glory." Miss Moss said engineers had to do some bedding-in work and install lighting on the bridge, which would take around two weeks, before it would finally be opened to passengers.

The collapsed bridge was taken in bits to the Cheshire workshop after the restoration contract was awarded to a firm on the Wirral.

Staff went about the rebuilding process – often using the original iron bars that could not be saved to repair the corroded ends of other original pieces, while Wolverhampton-based firm Barr & Grosvenor set about the castings work for five new cast iron columns.

Planning permission was needed from South Staffordshire District Council as the proposals dealt with a listed structure.