Network Rail to rebuild Cosford’s railway station

The existing station was opened on 1937 to coincide with the opening of RAF Cosford. Even then, sustainability was at the forefront of people’s minds. Adam Checkley, Network Rail’s senior building surveyor explains: “In simple terms, the station has two wooden platforms and sections of it are constructed from original wooden sleepers.

“This could well mean that they are over 100 years old and they have done well to last this long, but with the increasingly large numbers of people visiting the Cosford Air Show, now is the time to replace them.”

Working with contractor C Spencer Ltd, Network Rail will remove the existing waiting shelters, lighting and fences, as well as demolishing the timber platforms and support structures, and the access stairs leading to them.

New platforms will be laid on concrete cross beams and steel supports, and will have a non-slip surface with tactile paving to denote the platform edge.

Each platform will have a new steel and glass waiting shelter and lighting columns, and we’ll reinstate the customer information screens and station announcement system. New steel staircases to the platforms will also be built and new fencing erected along the rear of the platforms.

Work is due to start on 31 October and continue until mid-March 2012. During this time the station will be closed and replacement road transport to Albrighton station will be provided by London Midland.

Mr Checkley concluded: “We chose this time to do the work because we were conscious that it had to be completed in time for the air show next summer.”