Railway bridges struck by road vehicles - merged topic, ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[TonyN]

An educated guess - does the main Belfast to Dublin railway run over the top of it?

Correct.

https://tinyurl.com/48v449js

[Surrey 455]

S that a railway bridge though?

An educated guess - does the main Belfast to Dublin railway run over the top of it?

There is a railway over the bridge. I didn't look to see where it goes. Having looked on Streetview just now I see that the incident seems to have taken place in 2021 and the views were replaced in 2021. This seems to be the location. https://goo.gl/maps/ZpCebNDW4NstQQKC7

[stuving]

Bad one near Ketton this morning, a skip lorry really damaging a bridge which was only 13 ft clearance. Freight route but diversions planned fir tomorrow.
Some recent images here
https://twitter.com/staplefordtrain/status/1588848669310484483?s=61&t=jeNqiQddLzi03VAaQXLrgw

Despite being one of the biggest bashes in recent times, damaging the deck so badly it (one of two) needed to be replaced, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have just announced the line has reopened:

Railway bridge repaired to reconnect Leicester and Peterborough

This morning (23 November), rail passengers can travel between Leicester and Peterborough once again after Network Rail completes almost three weeks of extensive repairs.

Fosters bridge, which sits across the A6121 Stamford Road in Ketton, Rutland, was struck by a lorry on Saturday 5 November, putting the railway line between Leicester and Peterborough out of action.

Since then, engineers have worked around the clock to remove the damaged bridge deck, install a brand-new one and then lay fresh ballast and track over the top so that trains can use the section safely again.

[TonyK]

Despite being one of the biggest bashes in recent times, damaging the deck so badly it (one of two) needed to be replaced, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have just announced the line has reopened:

Wonderful work, and truly astonishing. I wonder how long until the next?

[ellendune]

Despite being one of the biggest bashes in recent times, damaging the deck so badly it (one of two) needed to be replaced, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have just announced the line has reopened:

Railway bridge repaired to reconnect Leicester and Peterborough

This morning (23 November), rail passengers can travel between Leicester and Peterborough once again after Network Rail completes almost three weeks of extensive repairs.

Fosters bridge, which sits across the A6121 Stamford Road in Ketton, Rutland, was struck by a lorry on Saturday 5 November, putting the railway line between Leicester and Peterborough out of action.

Since then, engineers have worked around the clock to remove the damaged bridge deck, install a brand-new one and then lay fresh ballast and track over the top so that trains can use the section safely again.

New bridge deck constructed as an emergency.  That is going to cost the skip company's insurers a pretty penny.  I wouldn't like to think what their premiums might go up to at the next renewal.

[Bmblbzzz]

I wonder what does get charged to the insurers?

Bridge strikes like these have cost Network Rail – and ultimately the taxpayer – almost £12 million in delay and cancellation fees in 2021/22.

Shouldn't those delay and cancellation fees be charged to the insurers too? Or to the MIB for those that are uninsured.

[stuving]

I wonder what does get charged to the insurers?

Bridge strikes like these have cost Network Rail – and ultimately the taxpayer – almost £12 million in delay and cancellation fees in 2021/22.

Shouldn't those delay and cancellation fees be charged to the insurers too? Or to the MIB for those that are uninsured.

Maybe they are. It would be consequential loss, I guess. It would still "cost" NR^» (Network Rail - home page) the same amount either way - all their outgoings are funded from some external source!

[ellendune]

I wonder what does get charged to the insurers?

Bridge strikes like these have cost Network Rail – and ultimately the taxpayer – almost £12 million in delay and cancellation fees in 2021/22.

Shouldn't those delay and cancellation fees be charged to the insurers too? Or to the MIB for those that are uninsured.

Maybe they are. It would be consequential loss, I guess. It would still "cost" NR^» (Network Rail - home page) the same amount either way - all their outgoings are funded from some external source!

I understand that the Great Heck crash was the largest motor insurance claim ever!

[bobm]

Despite being one of the biggest bashes in recent times, damaging the deck so badly it (one of two) needed to be replaced, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have just announced the line has reopened:

Railway bridge repaired to reconnect Leicester and Peterborough

This morning (23 November), rail passengers can travel between Leicester and Peterborough once again after Network Rail completes almost three weeks of extensive repairs.

Fosters bridge, which sits across the A6121 Stamford Road in Ketton, Rutland, was struck by a lorry on Saturday 5 November, putting the railway line between Leicester and Peterborough out of action.

Since then, engineers have worked around the clock to remove the damaged bridge deck, install a brand-new one and then lay fresh ballast and track over the top so that trains can use the section safely again.

New bridge deck constructed as an emergency.  That is going to cost the skip company's insurers a pretty penny.  I wouldn't like to think what their premiums might go up to at the next renewal.

Apparently the bridge has been struck again today.  Currently the line is closed pending an inspection.

[TonyK]

Despite being one of the biggest bashes in recent times, damaging the deck so badly it (one of two) needed to be replaced, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) have just announced the line has reopened:

Wonderful work, and truly astonishing. I wonder how long until the next?

Apparently the bridge has been struck again today.  Currently the line is closed pending an inspection.

We didn't have to wait long. Just a week.

[Clan Line]

Something different - not a lorry for once !

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23168378.a30-london-road-reopens-six-hours-tractor-strikes-railway-bridge/

Same bridge as #535 I think.

[grahame]

Something different - not a lorry for once !

https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/23168378.a30-london-road-reopens-six-hours-tractor-strikes-railway-bridge/

Same bridge as #535 I think.

Comment on the original:

Following the hot summer, the ground had shrunk and the railway embankment had dropped. Subsequently with the recent wet weather the ground has swelled such that the height clearance under the bridge has been reduced and is now less than that shown on the signs.

[CyclingSid]

Cycling down the road from Salisbury station yesterday traffic held up by a lorry trying to do a three(?) point turn before the railway bridge. Presumably some drivers do know the height of their vehicles and can read road signs.

[stuving]

Cycling down the road from Salisbury station yesterday traffic held up by a lorry trying to do a three(?) point turn before the railway bridge. Presumably some drivers do know the height of their vehicles and can read road signs.

... but not always in distance vision?

[ChrisB]

At last - this ought to be happening far more often!

From Network Rail

Driver fined and banned from driving HGVs for 6 months after jamming lorry under Coulsdon railway bridge, causing massive delays in London, Surrey and Sussex

A driver who jammed his HGV under a bridge carrying the Brighton Main Line through Coulsdon has been banned from driving lorries for six months as a result.

The incident on 7 July this year happened at around 2.30pm on the A237 Brighton Road, just outside Coulsdon South station. The lorry became wedged under the iron girder bridge that carries the fast lines for express trains to Gatwick Airport, Haywards Heath and Brighton. The nature of the bridge meant it had to be closed until the lorry could be removed, leaving just two tracks open for the whole Brighton Main Line.

In fact it was 8.45pm before the lorry could be removed, meaning trains were disrupted right up until the end of the day as far afield as Eastbourne in the south and Bedford and Cambridge in the north.

The driver appeared before the South East Traffic Commissioner in late November to receive a six-month HGV driving ban, following an earlier court appearance where he was fined a means-tested £715 and given six points on his licence for driving without due care and attention and contravening a traffic sign.

Network Rail’s route director for Sussex, Katie Frost, said: “Well over 400 trains and thousands of passengers from across the South were disrupted by this single error of judgement, and it brings home how important it is for professional drivers to check the heights of their lorries and their routes before setting off.

“Network Rail seeks to recover costs for incidents like this one and we work closely with the Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Metropolitan Police to tackle drivers who damage our bridges.

“The fine and the ban won’t make up for the costs of the disruption but they send a message to other drivers that it’s never worth running the risk.”

Sergeant Alex Burlison from the Commercial Vehicle Unit at the Metropolitan Police Service said: “Far too often we are deploying resources to deal with these incidents which are wholly avoidable with each collision having the potential for fatal consequences.

"These drivers are entrusted to drive some of the largest vehicles on the road and it is only right that should they be involved in a collision with infrastructure of any description that they are placed before the courts.”

Piece includes a photo of the said lorry under the bridge