By Saul Cooke-Black

COMMUTERS will no longer have to be diverted around the footbridge at Stonehouse railway station.

Due to a problem with the deck, the main span was taken to a factory yard just outside of Cardiff to be repaired.

A diversion was put in place while the work was completed over the summer.

Users can now access both platforms without having to walk under the railway bridge. It is the first major refurbishment the footbridge has had during its 125 year history.

Mike Walsh, project manager with Network Rail, said the work is part of a programme to upgrade stations in the western region of the rail network.

He added that there will be some additional work to upgrade lighting at the station but it will not cause any further disruption to passengers.

The railway station, located on the Swindon to Gloucester Golden Valley line, was originally called Stonehouse Burdett Road to distinguish it from the second station in Bristol Road, which closed to passengers in 1965.

It is currently the only station serving Stonehouse although there are calls to re-open the Bristol Road station which would provide a direct line to Bristol.