Permission has been granted to replace the footbridge at Earley train station, off Wokingham Road, which is served by South Western Railway trains between Reading and London Waterloo.
A replacement has been on the agenda for years. In October 2022 Matt Rodda, then the Labour MP for Reading East, called for a new bridge with disabled access. At the time the replacement was estimated to cost £8 million and a Network Rail spokesperson said the organisation preferred maintenance to replacement.
Plans were submitted to Wokingham Borough Council in January and Network Rail has now won prior approval to replace the existing bridge.
Nick Donoghue, senior town planner for Network Rail, wrote: "Following a comprehensive site survey, it was apparent that Earley station footbridge had many corrosion defects which require refurbishment and repair."
It was judged better to replace the bridge rather than try to repair it.
The new bridge will not be accessible to wheelchair users, a decision met with disappointment from Woodley Town Council and Earley councillors.
Anne Bassett (Liberal Democrats, Hillside) wrote: "Whilst supporting the need for a new bridge, it is disappointing that no attempt is being made to make access for the disabled or for pushchairs by means of a ramp."
Alistair Neal (Liberal Democrats, St Nicolas) wrote: "I note that there will be no ramped access and so the London-bound platform will still be inaccessible to wheelchair users.
"Also, there is no 'Bike Gutter' in the design to help get bikes to and from the London-bound platform."
Prior approval was granted by Wokingham Borough Council on Wednesday 25 March. You can view the approved application on the council planning portal using reference 260243.
Mr Rodda has been the Labour MP for Reading Central since 2024. From 2017 to 2024 he was the MP for Reading East, which covered most of Woodley.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
