OREANDA-NEWS. Pupils from St Nicolas Junior School visited the site of the under-construction Boundary Road bridge in Newbury this week (12 July) to see how their artwork was brightening up a temporary footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists and getting across an important safety message to their peers.

The bridge over the railway at Boundary Road is currently being rebuilt as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and businesses.

The work will make room for new overhead wires as Network Rail continues to get the Great Western Mainline ready for a new fleet of faster, greener, quieter electric trains.

The pupils have been working hard during their art lessons in recent months to design pieces based on the theme of staying safe by the railway. Prizes on offer for the best pieces included: a ride in the cab of a train, a train simulator experience, a tour of the construction compound at Boundary Road and train tickets for travel anywhere on the Great Western Mainline with train operator GWR.

St Nicolas School’s art co-ordinator Mira Miller said: “This project was a wonderful opportunity for the pupils at St Nic’s to be involved in a local event. It not only enabled them to work together on the artwork, generating ideas and enjoying the painting, it promoted a really important safety message.

“Hopefully the addition of the artwork will make the walk over the footbridge a more pleasant experience.”

Network Rail’s regional director of infrastructure projects, Robbie Burns, said: “We are delighted that St Nicolas School have been involved with this project and we would like to thank Mira Miller, Carole Ings and all the children for their efforts.

“We are proud to have been able to involve the local school in this project, and promote a strong safety message, encouraging children to stay away from the tracks and overhead wires which will soon be coming to the area as we electrify the railway.”

When the work in Newbury is finished, residents will be a step closer to enjoying the benefits that electrification and the new fleet of electric trains will bring, including faster journeys with more seats and more legroom. These trains will also produce less noise and air pollution in the local area.

When the new bridge is put into operation early next year, the pupils’ artwork will be moved and put on display at Newbury and Newbury Racecourse stations.