Footbridge costs

[Parham Wood]

Is there any in house design teams in NR for designing footbridges etc or is the design as well as the construction outsourced?

 

[DelW]

Is there any in house design teams in NR for designing footbridges etc or is the design as well as the construction outsourced?

I have no knowledge of current NR practice, but steel footbridges are normally designed and detailed by the fabricators, who have their own standard designs, steel sections and details to suit their fabrication processes. The design process involves tailoring these to the particular site requirements.

 

[Farnborough]

Locally, they've just completed a footbridge across the North Downs Line, at Farnborough North. Reportedly, at a cost of £3.7 million

Naturally, this includes lifts as well as the steps...

The footbridge at the other end of the Hatches has been deferred.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Farnborough-North-and-Hatches-Consultation-Presentation.pdf

 

[The Planner]

Unless its quoted specifically, that cost is for everything, not just the structure. So design, staff costs for sponsorship, project management, construction, close out etc... the bridge is only a part of it.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Unless its quoted specifically, that cost is for everything, not just the structure. So design, staff costs for sponsorship, project management, construction, close out etc... the bridge is only a part of it.

Well, there goes another mil for someone to make a Gantt chart...

... or these days maybe even for someone to write a prompt to get an AI to produce a Gantt chart.

 

[ABB125]

Unless its quoted specifically, that cost is for everything, not just the structure. So design, staff costs for sponsorship, project management, construction, close out etc... the bridge is only a part of it.

What's the difference between one of NR's project sponsors and a project manager? And why are both roles needed for a "small" project like a footbridge replacement?

 

[CharlieSpotted]

What's the difference between one of NR's project sponsors and a project manager? And why are both roles needed for a "small" project like a footbridge replacement?

The role of a project manager is, as everyone who has worked in a corporate environment can attest, to fill everyone's calendar with Teams meetings to determine if the project is on track.

Which it would be, if we didn't spend all day on Teams meetings...

 

[bluenoxid]

I don’t work for Network Rail so I might get this wrong.

Project Sponsor is the attentive mind for the stakeholders/customer/responsible party for the investment. Rather than have multiple stakeholder reps able to pick up the phone on an adhoc basis to the project management element of the work and derail the piece of work because someone has “decided” that a piece of paper hasn’t been presented in the correct format (laughs with experience), the sponsor pulls everything into one voice even if there is conflicting views.

Project Management is trying to get everything to line up for governance and delivery.

Footbridges could have multiple funders, operators, users and local stakeholders of varying guises. Having a sponsor who can sit down with someone over a cup of tea can smash down silo walls quickly and reverse sometimes decades of grievances in the stop-start environment of infrastructure work.

 

[zwk500]

What's the difference between one of NR's project sponsors and a project manager?

In my experience, the sponsor will be doing things like getting the project onto the shopping list, securing funding, and functioning as the "client". This includes things like determining design requirements for the stakeholders (e.g. does the bridge need to be accessible to horses as well?)

The project manager will be responsible for actually delivering the footbridge that satisfies the requirements within the budget allocated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==

I have no knowledge of current NR practice, but steel footbridges are normally designed and detailed by the fabricators, who have their own standard designs, steel sections and details to suit their fabrication processes. The design process involves tailoring these to the particular site requirements.

Network Rail has a standard design with a set of modular parts, presumably procured through a central arrangement. I expect it needs some adjustment on certain sites though

And why are both roles needed for a "small" project like a footbridge replacement?

A footbridge will only be one project in their portfolio. Having separate people be "client" and "provider" is good practice.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Even in BR (sector) days the distinction between Sponsor and Project Manager existed and was very beneficial for the reasons explained above.

I have performed both roles (at different times!) during my career.

 

[Deepgreen]

In my experience, the sponsor will be doing things like getting the project onto the shopping list, securing funding, and functioning as the "client". This includes things like determining design requirements for the stakeholders (e.g. does the bridge need to be accessible to horses as well?)

The project manager will be responsible for actually delivering the footbridge that satisfies the requirements within the budget allocated.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==


Network Rail has a standard design with a set of modular parts, presumably procured through a central arrangement. I expect it needs some adjustment on certain sites though

A footbridge will only be one project in their portfolio. Having separate people be "client" and "provider" is good practice.

Exactly so - one of my railway career roles was as client for several major projects.

 

[6Gman]

Being even more pedantic than usual, how far can a footpath be moved from its mapped position without official consent? A footbridge of the station type (ie steps at right angles to the bridge) would mean that either the bridge deck was no longer on the old alignment or the path would have to deviate to reach the bottom of the steps. A straight line alignment would require land take for the steps since a right of way is no more than that.
Personally, I would regard any challenge to a realignment for a footbridge mischievous but the law is an odd beast! At least there are no current plans for a footbridge at Altnabreac!

Legally a footpath diversion, however slight, requires permission from the local authority and can - and often will - be subject to objections.

It can be a lengthy process. Round here an application to redesignate a footpath to a bridleway (not a diversion, but gives an idea of how things can work out) took over twenty years.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==

While the complications around installing a 'simple' footbridge are far greater than meet the eye, let's also not pretend that rail contractor costs aren't generally greatly inflated 'because it's the railway = license to print money'!

This would, of course, require a cartel of contractors fixing prices.

Which would be illegal.

Not to say it couldn't happen, but ...