Canal closed for faulty sliding bridge repairs

A canal has had to temporarily close after a fault was detected on the UK's only sliding swing bridge.

Network Rail said a key component in the mechanism, which allows the unique railway bridge, near Keadby, in North Lincolnshire, to slide open, had failed.

Contractors were alerted on Friday and were "working as fast as they can on the urgent repair", a spokesperson said.

The company said train services between Doncaster and Scunthorpe were unaffected and it was hoped the bridge would reopen by "the end of next week".

The original Keadby sliding bridge dates to the 1860s and is the only one of its kind in the UK, according to Network Rail.

It was adapted into the current structure in 1925.

While the Stainforth and Keadby canal has been shut to boats, the bridge has been left in a position allowing train services to keep running.

Toby Patrick Bailey, programme director for Network Rail’s North and East route, apologised and said a new part was being "specially made" to replace the failed component.

“We’re sorry to canal users who are being impacted by the fault with the sliding railway bridge in Keadby.

"Our teams are working as fast as they can to repair the mechanism.

"We’re in contact with the Canal and River Trust and we’ll work together to keep people informed about when the waterway can reopen.”

Canal users have been advised to check for the latest information on the Canal and River Trust website.

The unique canal bridge connects trains between Doncaster, Scunthorpe and the Lincolnshire coast and is one of the busiest routes for freight trains in the country, Network Rail added.

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