Congleton rail station has been improved after a major overhaul of its passenger footbridge.

It reopened to passengers on Tuesday after a £320,000 upgrade as part of the Great North Rail Project.

After spending a significant chunk of this year being shut, it is a welcome relief for Congleton rail passengers.

Particularly as many of us have recently made the return to office working, and the footbridge will now make commuting easier.

The improved structure links the two platforms at our town's Northern-operated station.

Network Rail engineers have now completed a four-month programme of work to repair, strengthen and repaint the important railway crossing.

The improvement work began in July and will keep the bridge structure safe and reliable for many years to come.

Natalie Todt, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: "We're delighted to reopen Congleton station's footbridge to passengers today after a £320k refurbishment delivered as part of the Great North Rail Project.

"As well as looking so much better, our improvements will secure the future of the footbridge for many years to come.

"I'd like to thank Northern passengers and local people for their patience while we completed the work."

Congleton Train Station is located near Park Lane. It opened in October 1848, and the postcode is CW12 3JS.

In broader rail network, Congleton station is located between Macclesfield and Kidsgrove on the Manchester to Stoke-on-Trent branch line of the West Coast main line.

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said: "I would like to thank Network Rail and everyone involved in this project. The footbridge looks fantastic, and the team involved have worked hard to improve the station environment for our customers.

"Our customers are at heart of everything we do and the Great North Rail Project, alongside our own enhancements to trains and stations will have a big impact for our customers using the Northern network."

You can view a video tour of the new footbridge at the top of this article.

Step-free access to both platforms remains for those who are disabled or wish not to take the stairs.

Congleton station has been operated by Northern Rail since 2004.

In the same year, a major refurbishment of the station was undertaken.

The booking hall received further sprucing up in 2018.

This new crossing for passengers is the latest in a line of improvements for Congleton's railway station.

See also: Congleton councillor among discussion of school bus cuts and walking push.

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