A VIADUCT which connects the railway line to a tourist honeypot will reopen on Good Friday. 

Engineers and contractors have been busy repairing and re-waterproofing the Stanway Viaduct, just north of Toddington station, on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway line over the last few months.

Due to this work, the picturesque village of Broadway had been cut off from the rest of the line since November, when the track was lifted to gain access to the viaduct’s deck.

However, passengers will be able to cross the viaduct again just in time for the Easter weekend.

The first public train to cross the viaduct will depart from Toddington for Broadway at 9.40am on Friday, March 29 and the Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse service is due to leave at 10.15am. 

Contractors have used stainless steel ties between 240 stainless steel plates to stabilise the parapets which are now anchored to a new concrete deck. 

Dr Graham Plant, civil engineering director at GWSR, said: “Many of us have breathed a huge sigh of relief after the intensive work on the viaduct.

"The first phase of repairs has been completed within budget and within the expected time frame – we were fortunate that generally favourable weather has been on our side, allowing the work to press ahead with little interruption. 

“We will now allow the viaduct to dry out before starting work on phase two which is planned to start in 2025, subject to funding. 

"This will encompass repair of the structure’s brickwork that has been damaged by water seepage over many decades.”

Last year Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway Trust launched an appeal to raise money to fund the now-completed first stage of the viaduct repair work which has cost around £600,000.

Dr Plant added: “In all, complete repair of the viaduct will cost up to £1.8 million, so the appeal remains open.

"We expect the painstaking task to repair the brickwork to take up to three years to finish.”

The viaduct appeal can be found at tinyurl.com/59ez3kk9