Steel Foot Over Bridge (FOB) Fabrication for Railways and Roads
We fabricate steel foot over bridges for railway stations, road crossings and industrial plants: main spans, stair towers, landings and handrails, delivered as a numbered kit ready for erection. Railway FOBs often have to go up within a few hours of a traffic block, so we build them to fit first time, with the same weld inspection and paperwork as the rest of our structural steel fabrication.
Types of FOB we fabricate
Railway station FOBs
Railway station foot over bridge fabrication in India is governed by the Indian Railways Standard IRS B1-2001 — the same code that governs ROB plate girder fabrication. A railway station FOB has a main span crossing one or more tracks, with stair structures at each end descending to the platform level. The main span needs to clear the overhead traction equipment on electrified lines — a minimum clearance of typically 6.5 metres above rail level for AC electrified routes, which drives the FOB up to a significant height above the platform. The stair rise from platform level to FOB deck can be 5 to 7 metres depending on the electrification clearance requirement.
Foot over bridge fabrication to IRS specification includes: structural steel to IS 2062 with mill test certificates; welding to qualified weld procedures; IRS two-coat painting system on a shot-blasted surface (zinc-rich primer plus micaceous iron oxide intermediate coat); dimensional inspection records; weld inspection records; and a complete quality dossier delivered with the steel. Sun Corporation fabricates railway station FOBs to IRS B1-2001 as a standard scope. We have fabricated FOB steel for Indian Railways projects in South India and can provide references from project managers and railway divisional engineers on completed projects.
State PWD and railway interface tenders require manufacturer credentials for EPC tender review — supplied on request.
Road FOBs and skywalks
Road foot over bridge fabrication in India covers the pedestrian crossings over arterial roads and expressways — the skywalks that allow pedestrians to cross safely at controlled points. Road FOBs are typically designed to IS 800:2007 rather than IRS specification, and the aesthetic requirements are generally higher than for railway station FOBs because they are visible urban infrastructure in public spaces. The main span for a road FOB is typically shorter than a railway FOB — 12 to 25 metres — and the height above the road is set by the required headroom for the tallest vehicles using the road below, typically 5.5 metres minimum above carriageway level.
Road foot over bridge fabrication at Sun Corporation uses IS 800:2007 compliant structural steel, with a higher surface finish standard than industrial structural steel — welds ground flush on visible faces, consistent section profiles, and multi-coat paint systems applied in the workshop rather than on site. For road FOBs with lifts for disabled access, the structural steel for the lift shaft is fabricated and supplied as part of the complete FOB package.
Plant access bridges and walkways
Industrial plant foot over bridge fabrication covers the elevated walkways, pipe rack access bridges, and plant interconnection bridges that allow maintenance personnel to move around a process plant safely at high level. These are functional structures rather than architecturally prominent ones — standard structural sections for the main span beams, standard angles and flats for the handrail systems, and open steel grating for the deck surface. Sun Corporation fabricates industrial access bridges and elevated walkways as a standard scope item, supplied as a complete numbered kit with all components identified for site assembly.
Codes we work to
- IRS B1-2001 — Indian Railways Standard for fabrication and erection of steel girder bridges. Applied to all railway station FOB main spans and stair structures on Indian Railways property.
- IS 800:2007 — the primary structural steel design and fabrication code for road FOBs and industrial access bridges not on Indian Railways property.
- IS 875 Part 2 — imposed loads for pedestrian structures. The crowd loading for public access pedestrian bridges is 5 kN/m². For railway station FOBs, the Indian Railways Board circulars on FOB design specify the loading requirements.
- IS 875 Part 3 — wind loads on exposed pedestrian bridge structures and handrail systems.
- IS 1893:2016 — seismic design for FOBs in seismic zones III and above.
- IS 2062 — hot-rolled steel material standard for all FOB structural members.
- IS 1477 — painting specification for structural steel. IRS two-coat system for railway FOBs; IS 1477 for road and industrial FOBs.
Erecting FOBs within railway traffic blocks
Railway station foot over bridge erection in India is one of the most logistically complex steel erection operations — the main span has to cross live or operational railway tracks, which means the erection crane and the span itself are operating in the railway safety zone. Indian Railways grants rail traffic blocks — periods when train movements on the relevant track are suspended — for FOB main span erection. These blocks are typically two to four hours, granted during off-peak periods (often between midnight and 5am), and are not always available at short notice.
Sun Corporation’s site teams are experienced in working within railway traffic block constraints. We plan the transport schedule so FOB main span sections arrive at the station site ready for the planned erection block. We prepare the lifting sequence and crane configuration in advance so that every minute of the block is used productively. Method statements and risk assessments specific to the railway environment, covering railway safety rules and block-working procedures, are prepared and submitted before mobilisation. When the block opens, the erection team executes efficiently because the planning has been done properly in advance.
Finishes, decks and sections
We supply FOB steel painted to the IRS system or hot-dip galvanised where the site is coastal or humid. Decks can be chequered plate or grating, or steel framing ready to take a precast slab. Main spans can be plate girders, rolled sections or hollow-section trusses, whichever suits the span and the look the client wants. Lift tower steel is fabricated as part of the same package.
FOB questions we are often asked
What does FOB mean in railways?
FOB stands for foot over bridge. It is a steel pedestrian bridge that lets passengers cross the tracks between platforms without walking at track level.
What is the difference between an FOB and an ROB?
An FOB carries people on foot. An ROB, or road over bridge, carries road traffic over a railway line and is a much heavier structure. See our ROB steel page for that work.
How high is a railway FOB above the tracks?
On electrified routes the main span usually needs about 6.5 metres of clearance above rail level, which is why FOB stair towers often rise 5 to 7 metres from the platform.
What we need to quote
To get a quotation for foot over bridge fabrication from Sun Corporation, we need: the crossing type (railway station, road, or industrial), the span or spans, the loading specification (IRS or IS 875 Part 2), the location, the material and painting specification, and whether erection including railway traffic block management is to be included in the scope. A general arrangement drawing or sketch showing the span arrangement is sufficient for a budget estimate. We respond to all foot over bridge fabrication enquiries within 24 hours, and for railway FOB projects, we are familiar with the Indian Railways procurement process and documentation requirements.
Contact Sun Corporation for foot over bridge fabrication. Also see: ROB construction | Plate girder fabrication | Structural steel Hyderabad