The centre of Swindon is split in two by the London to Cardiff mainline railway. There are some key organisations to the north of the railway line including RCUK, Innovate and Swindon College, in addition to a major new development site: the Oasis/North Star Leisure development.
The Masterplan identified this lack of connectivity as a key challenge, so Forward Swindon has been looking at the feasibility of constructing a bridge over the railway. A high quality pedestrian and cycle bridge would improve the environment at the station and enable people to avoid the use of the existing tunnels under the line, which are perceived to be unsafe.
Civil engineers, Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) were commissioned by Forward Swindon to produce a feasibility study. A footbridge could cross the railway line immediately to the west of Swindon railway station and connect the area near the end of North Star Avenue (where there is currently a surface car park) to the station forecourt adjacent to the Signal Point building. As part of the scheme, a new multi-story car park to the north of the line could be accessed by the bridge, which would reduce unnecessary traffic movements through the town centre, and increase access, especially for those driving into the station from the north or west of Swindon.
With the electrification of the mainline now underway, and multiple landowners involved, the project is extremely complex and likely to require a budget in the region of £12 million to implement. Funding options are now being explored.
A visual of the possible bridge design and location, with the multi-story car park to the north and Signal Point to the south of the railway tracks.