OREANDA-NEWS. The new footbridge will replace the existing level crossing and provide a safe route across the railway for local residents, as well as creating a vital pedestrian route across the railway to Little Bowden primary school and nearby leisure facilities.

Network Rail has engaged with Harborough District Council and Leicestershire County Council prior to submitting the application as well as hosting a public event in order to consult local residents.

Little Bowden crossing, just outside Market Harborough, Leicestershire, was closed in August 2015 for safety reasons and people wishing to cross the railway have since had to use the underpass on Scotland Road.

The crossing lies on the Midland Main Line and, before its closure, was one of the highest-risk level crossings in the area. The crossing sees around 200 trains a day pass through at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour.

Gary Walsh, area director at Network Rail, said: “Safety is our primary concern, and we believe the construction of this bridge will reduce the amount of people who choose to risk their lives by misusing the crossing.

“We are delighted that permission has been granted and we look forward to starting work on the bridge as soon as possible.”

Work is expected to start next summer and should be completed in the autumn of 2017.

Network Rail owns, manages and develops Britain's railway - the 20,000 miles of track, 40,000 bridges and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations (the largest of which we also run). In partnership with train operators we help people take more than 1.65bn journeys by rail every year and move hundreds of millions of tonnes of freight, saving almost 8m lorry journeys. We employ 36,000 people across Britain and work round-the-clock, each and every day, to provide a safe, reliable railway.