WORK has begun to install a new accessible footbridge and lifts at Dawlish railway station as part of the ongoing work to protect and upgrade the coastal route.

Contractors working on the project for Network Rail are making ‘progress’ on building the new bridge which will link two sections of public, accessible ‘promenade’ and install the lift.

BAM Nuttall, who are constructing the major work along the sea wall and railway station, say they have now cast the first of two piers which are the pillars to support the deck of the new bridge.

The new bridge design will feature a lift for the first time in the station’s history since it was built in 1846.

A statement from the South West Rail Resilience Programme said: ‘We’ve also been preparing the area around the stilling basin ahead of the granite finish going in over the coming weeks.

‘And we’ve been filling in the ‘eyes’ where the pre-cast sections of new sea wall were attached to the crane.’

The car park at the station was closed over the weekend of October 8 and 9 to prepare for building the footbridge.

Machinery needed for the operation was lifted over the railway using a crane in the car park while no trains were running.

Since October 10, engineers have been preparing the ground for the new bridge.

They were ‘breaking out’ concrete on both sides of the track before installing foundations for the lift shafts.

The work was expected to take about three weeks.

It is due for completion in summer 2023.

Previously, the team had achieved a ‘milestone’ when they diverted Dawlish Water back to its original course.

On October 6, they announced that Dawlish Water could be seen flowing through the box culvert and out into the sea through the new stilling basin.

At that time, concrete was being poured to form the structure of the new bridge.