The new footbridge at Stowmarket station being installed (credit: Greater Anglia)

Greater Anglia has announced the successful installation of a first-of-its-kind accessible ‘AVA’ footbridge at Stowmarket station, completed on 29 and 30 November. Featuring new lifts, the bridge marks a major step forward in improving accessibility at the station and is scheduled to open to passengers in the first quarter of 2026 following the completion of on-site testing and final project works.

Brand-new images released today (3 December) show the bridge being installed. Across 47 consecutive hours, the team deployed a 500-tonne mobile crane and Hi-Ab (lorry loader) to lower the various parts of the new footbridge into position. Five major movements took place, including the installation of a 29-tonne staircase section.

The new footbridge at Stowmarket station being installed (credit: Greater Anglia)

The new bridge is a modular design, which is cheaper and quicker to construct. Lifts have been built into the bridge’s design, making it much easier to transfer between the platforms.

It is designed to be more attractive for passengers, more reliable, and easier to maintain than traditional designs. Built of stainless steel, it’s built to be long-lasting and doesn’t need to be painted.

The new footbridge at Stowmarket station being installed (credit: Greater Anglia)

Andrew Goodrum, Infrastructure and Projects Director for Greater Anglia, said:

“The new, first-of-its-kind footbridge has been successfully installed at Stowmarket and is due to open in the first quarter of 2026, following the completion of on-site testing and final project works.

“This upgrade will mark a significant step in enabling easier, more accessible journeys for passengers using and changing trains at Stowmarket station.

“We are looking forward to completing the project to provide this revolutionary new footbridge, complete with lifts, for our customers.”

The new footbridge at Stowmarket station being installed (credit: Greater Anglia)

The £5.5 million project to install the ‘AVA’ footbridge involves the replacement of the previous concrete footbridge.

The modular design and ‘plug-and-play’ lifts are designed to cut the commissioning time needed on-site, minimising disruption for passengers and neighbours.

Greater Anglia received funding for accessibility improvements at the station under the Government’s Access for All scheme, as the only step-free way to cross between platforms currently is via the level crossing.

The new footbridge at Stowmarket station being installed (credit: Greater Anglia)

For further information, please visit the Greater Anglia website.