Longport Station Footbridge Upgrade Delayed Until Spring 2026 After Steel Defects
Rail passengers and local residents at Longport station in Stoke-on-Trent are facing a longer wait for essential improvements to the station’s footbridge.
Work to upgrade the structure and staircases, part of a £1.4 million investment led by Network Rail and its principal contractor Story, began in summer 2025. Completion had been expected this autumn, but setbacks with manufacturing of some steel components have pushed back the timeline.
The issues centre on the sides of the bridge and the welding of new balustrades and parapets. These elements failed to meet quality standards, prompting urgent action by Network Rail and Story to work with the supplier to correct the defects.
Patrick Vallely, Network Rail head of buildings and civils, said:
“We’re very sorry that rail users and local people will have to wait longer than expected for Longport station’s footbridge upgrade to be completed, and the inconvenience this causes for journeys due to the diversionary walking route. It’s our duty to carry out stringent tests to make sure all building work on our railway is done to the right standards. Regrettably, we’ve taken the tough decision to have some of the bridge panels remade because they did not meet what was required. We’re working closely with our contractors to get this resolved as quickly as possible and thank people for their continued patience.”
Jim Lewis, Story Contracting head of operations, added:
“We continue to work with Network Rail and our supply chain to find a solution as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and the ongoing delays to the project. We’d like to thank the community and rail users for their ongoing patience.”
Due to these manufacturing delays, the footbridge upgrade is now expected to be completed no earlier than spring 2026. Teams are exploring temporary measures that could allow partial reopening sooner, with design work being fast-tracked and further details anticipated before Christmas.
Although train services at Longport will continue uninterrupted, those using the diversionary walking route are advised to plan extra time for their journeys. Additional lighting is being installed along the path to improve safety as the winter nights draw in.
Image: Network Rail