New figures released by Network Rail reveal heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) colliding with bridges caused over 100 days (150,000 minutes) of delays for rail passengers last year.
From 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 there were 1,532 reported bridge strikes – one every six hours – which cost Britain’s rail industry around £20 million in delays, cancellations, and repairs.
The new figures come as Network Rail urges haulage operators and their lorry drivers to ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ and take better care on the roads.
The railway bridge at Lower Downs Road, Wimbledon has the unflattering title of being Britain’s third most-bashed with 17 incidents in 2023/24, with the Stuntney Road bridge in Ely, Cambridgeshire, taking the title for the top spot as part of Network Rail’s annual compilation of big hitters.
Network Rail works closely with industry partners to tackle bridge strikes. Its ongoing ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign reminds lorry drivers to check the height of their vehicles and plan their route in advance to avoid low bridges. Network Rail also has a team of bridge strike champions covering each route across Britain, who raise awareness by visiting local haulage companies.
The last two consecutive years has seen a reduction in the total number of incidents recorded on the network, with a 4% reduction in the last year alone.
Network Rail’s engineers have also been working on repairs to railway bridges that involve the installation of a new protection beam, designed to withstand future bridge strikes, making them stronger than before. The extra protection helps to minimise disruption to rail and road traffic in the event of future strikes.
Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s group safety and engineering director, said: “Every time a vehicle hits a bridge it can serious safety issues for road and rail users. To compound matters, these incidents can delay tens of thousands of passengers while we inspect the bridge and repair any damage – creating cost from public funds which should be used upgrading and improving our network.
“We’ve done a lot of work with transport partners to tackle bridge strikes and it’s encouraging to see this is paying off with a general downward trend in the number of incidents. But with a strike every six hours there’s still much to do and we urge operators and drivers to properly plan their routes, know the height of their vehicles and be vigilant for road signs showing the height of bridges.
“We will report those who don’t to the Traffic Commissioners and Network Rail always looks to recover the entire repair and delay costs from the driver and the operator.”
Image credit: Network Rail
