A ‘Beacon’ at Garforth

Garforth station’s new footbridge opened in July, replacing a 190-year-old North Eastern Railway cast iron structure. An additional link span also connects the station to Aberford Road. Work to complete the lifts is now almost complete, and this will give rail passengers a safe, step-free option at the station for the first time.

Many stations have had their footbridges replaced, but this structure is a ‘Beacon’ bridge, one of Network Rail’s new generation of designs first devised in 2018 as part of its government-funded ‘Access for All Programme’ during Control Period 6. This provides obstacle free, accessible routes to and between platforms. Accessibility here benefits everyone – people with health conditions or impairments, people with children, heavy luggage or shopping, and some older people. It’s also good for the economy and means fewer car journeys, less congestion, and fewer carbon emissions.

Next generation bridges

In 2019, Network Rail revealed three concept designs for next generation railway footbridges blending forward-thinking architecture with creative engineering, and distinctive identities that would gradually replace current standards and historic structures in the future.

The three concepts were:

• The ‘Beacon’ – a fully glazed bridge featuring lantern-topped lift towers and a dynamic articulated engineered structure. The type selected for Garforth.
• The ‘Ribbon’ – an update of the classic arched footbridge with an elegant floating canopy spanning the track, featuring 30-degree lift and stair rotations.
• The ‘Frame’ – a radical expression of minimalism that offers a range of flexible, functional configurations.

Network Rail’s design development process included engaging with passengers, sharing these three designs using Arki augmented reality on smartphone devices and exploring these 3D models providing detailed visualisations of the architects’ designs.

Sahar Fikouhi of Darf Design, and developer of Arki, explained that: “It’s very rare for the public to have this access to genuine architects’ drawings and this is one of the first examples of future projects. The app is helping to democratise the way structures are designed and built by giving the public this access at early stages of design selection.”

During this engagement it was discovered that standard enclosed footbridges made some passengers feel unsafe, especially while travelling alone and particularly at night. As a result, a passenger security feature of the ‘Beacon’ bridge is side panels made from toughened glass. This was an important design consideration so that all bridge users can see if other people are also using the bridge or staircases.

The £6 million contract to reconstruct the Garforth bridge was awarded to AmcoGiffen.

The ‘Beacon’ footbridge gets its name from the striking design of the illuminated glazed tops of its two lift shafts. It was developed and designed by AmcoGiffen’s design and engineering, steel fabrication, and construction teams in close collaboration with its supply partners and Network Rail, building on the earlier concept design.

AmcoGiffen’s in-house steel fabrication team constructed the main elements of lift shafts, staircases, and main deck for the new structure at their base in Barnsley. Due to its size, the main deck was transported to the site under police escort and was lifted into place using a 350-tonne crane during rules of the route possessions.

Historically significant

Removing the old and fragile cast iron arched footbridge would be a challenge within the limited available time on the busy Leeds to Hull route. The design team proposed a temporary support frame to cradle and stabilise the structure during the lift. The scaffold tube and structural steel cradle was craned onto the platform beside the bridge and winched into position on rollers within steel channels. This was then braced against the arch, and the structure and temporary works craned out together.

This proved to be a success, and thanks to a £25,000 Railway Heritage Trust grant, the historically significant structure has been transported to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, in Kent, for restoration and reuse.

Peter Laws, Framework director for AmcoGiffen said: “This milestone is a significant achievement for our team, our supply chain and our partners at Network Rail. The successful installation of the main span is the final major structural element bringing us closer to completion. The unique ‘Beacon’ design with its dual aspect lifts, will undoubtedly transform the station, creating improved accessibility and a better experience for passengers and we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for the community of Garforth.”

Image credit: Network Rail