Concerted calls for a 20-year backlog of repairs to be carried out at the historic Bury St Edmunds railway station are being made, with concern for the fabric of the buildings.

East Anglian Daily Times: A shot of the Bury St Edmunds Northgate Railway Station taken in 1853/4. Digitised by the Bury Past and Present Society's Spanton Jarman Project.A shot of the Bury St Edmunds Northgate Railway Station taken in 1853/4. Digitised by the Bury Past and Present Society's Spanton Jarman Project. (Image: Bury St Edmunds Past and Present Society)

The Grade II listed Victorian station buildings are in need of internal and external renovation work and if they are found to be structurally unsound, the embankment the trains travel along could also be at risk.

With the awarding of a long-term nine year franchise to Abellio Greater Anglia, campaigners now hope there will be a financial incentive to start repairs.

The town’s MP Jo Churchill said: “It is not a lot to ask for a reasonable standard of facilities and services. I am hoping with the really good news of the long-term franchise we can try to resolve some of these issues.”

She said extra parking to the rear will be needed, with the private car park to the front set to be lost to a new housing development.

“There is so much goodwill to do something positive,” she said. “If someone wants to come and visit Bury the station is their first impression, and we want it to be a really good experience.”

She also called for improved reliability and more regular services between Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds, adding: “Having waited at Cambridge more times than I care to remember, I know we need more reliable services.”

Mrs Churchill has been working with a range of organisations in the town, including the Bury Town Trust.

John Popham, the trust chairman, has taken a lead role.

He said: “What we are trying to do is ensure three things: one is that the backlog of repairs on the station buildings are properly completed during the course of the next franchise.

“Two is we are now talking about upgrading the railway line so that we can have a half-hour commuter service between Cambridge and Ipswich. We will have to talk to all the interested parties to see that we can find some means of achieving this.

“Three is the addition of proper car parking, there is space at the rear of the station and my understanding is that this can be done.

“None of these things can happen without everyone working together to achieve them.”

He agreed that the station buildings, especially to the rear, had been neglected but said the risk was more than just superficial.

“There is a 20-year backlog of repairs that need to be carried out,” he said. “This predates Abellio’s short-term franchises, so we are by no means saying they are entirely at fault.”

He said structural assessments of the buildings were needed, as the two platforms actually support the embankment that the train track is on.

“With the amount of freight trains on that line, the assessments need to be carried out and I think the Department for Transport and Network Rail are all in agreement on this,” he said.

He said that the short term franchise Abellio has had since 2012 meant their was little financial incentive to meet the backlog of repairs. With the nine-year term now awarded, he hopes they will now invest.

His concerns were echoed by Martyn Taylor, chairman of the Bury Society, who said: “The Bury Society are very happy that a long-term franchise has been awarded. We will be making sure that they hear our concerns and hopefully we are listened to.”

The unique station was opened in the 1850s, with both platforms towering above the surrounding landscape due to the height of the embankment.

Designed by Sancton Wood, the same man who designed the iconic Heuston station in Dublin, the buildings two tall towers originally signified the end of the Ipswich to Bury line before it was extended to Newmarket and Cambridge.

An Abellio Greater Anglia spokesman said: “A successful project to improve the station including new toilets, a new waiting room and increase cycle parking at Bury, was completed earlier this year.

“We are looking into the possibility of further improvements in the new franchise.”