Service suspension Guildford-Redhill due to rail maintenance vehicle hitting footbridge

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Discussion on Gatwick Express has been split and moved to a new topic.

Back to the bridge strike...

[Steve Bray]

I guess there would have been 1 unit stuck at the Redhill side. Could that not have worked some Gatwick / Dorking West shuttles? 

[Chris from Nailsea]

A summary of the incident, from Get Surrey:

Trains cancelled after rail maintenance vehicle hit footbridge

Services from Guildford to Redhill were disrupted for most of Wednesday because of damage to the bridge at Shalford railway station


Damage at Shalford station with the rubble visible just behind the signal

Train services between Guildford and Redhill were cancelled for much of Wednesday after a rail maintenance vehicle hit a footbridge at Shalford station.

The Network Rail-owned vehicle struck the bridge at the eastern end of the station just before 5am on Wednesday, damaging a support and leaving a pile of rubble on the eastbound platform.

A message to passengers on the National Rail website warned: "A vehicle has damaged a support pier of a footbridge which crosses the line at the eastern end of Shalford station, an inspection has indicated the structure is unsafe so therefore no train service will operate."

A Network Rail spokesman apologised for the disruption, adding at around 3.30pm that the line was clear and "trains will begin to run shortly".

A First Great Western spokesman said earlier on Wednesday morning: "The line will be closed for a while but we are hoping it may be able to open later this afternoon. Tickets will be accepted for passengers to use all reasonable routes on South West Trains, Southern and London Underground. Taxis are operating for intermediate stations and two coaches are running between Guildford and Redhill and we are hoping to get some more. We are also moving additional staff to Guildford and Redhill so there will be people on hand to help passengers. Road transport is being used as much as possible, but if people use alternative routes their tickets will be accepted."


Network Rail crews at Shalford station

[stuving]

Last week when I was in Shalford that footbridge wasn't there. I presume it must have provided an external right of way, so it will need to be replaced or else legal steps taken to extinguish the right.