Taplow Station – 3rd May 2019
I went to Reading today and on the way, I noticed that a step-free bridge was being erected at Taplow station.
So on the way back, I stopped and took some pictures.
I took this other set of pictures before Crossrail construction had started.
The old Victorian bridge has been scrapped Wikipedia says this.
The station is a popular location for railway photographers and enthusiasts owing to the secluded location, long views of track alignments and the low number of station users at off-peak times. When a special train is due, the footbridge and platforms will usually have a large number of photographers and enthusiasts along them. The original footbridge dating from 1884 was removed in totality in mid-2018, and replaced by a second temporary structure. The refurbishment of the lattice footbridge (damaged by railway contractors) appears to have been cancelled; a new footbridge with lifts at the London end of the station has started construction in autumn 2018.
I do hope that the designers of the new footbridge are providing a bridge with lots of space and good views.
I would have thought that the a double version of the winner of the Network Rail/RIBA competition could have been used.
It would appear to be more affordable for a start, but it probably wasn’t designed, when the contract was awarded.
Conclusion
I do think that there has been some bad decisions made concerning Taplow station.
The Anonymous Widower 