Railway bridge named as 'most bashed' in Britain

Network Rail said the bridge in Ely, Cambridgeshire had been struck 18 times in 2023-24

Cambridgeshire Police A white van is stuck underneath the bridge on Stutney Road in Ely. The bridge says, warning very low bridge on it. — Network Rail said the bridge in Ely, Cambridgeshire had been struck 18 times in 2023-24

A railway bridge described as having "more than nine lives" has been named the most struck in Britain.

Network Rail said the structure in Stuntney Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire was Britain's "most bashed", with 18 incidents recorded in 2023-24.

Stonea Road in Stonea, near March, was named joint second with Lower Downs Road in Wimbledon, London - with 17 strikes in the last year - although Stonea Road residents told the BBC it was struck far more frequently.

The rail body said 1,532 bridge strikes in total were reported in the year to April, costing an estimated £20m in delays, cancellations and repairs.

The figures reveal passenger train services last year were delayed by the equivalent of more than 100 days due to lorries hitting bridges.

Over the years, a number of vehicles have got stuck under the Ely bridge, including vans and lorries

Cambridgeshire Police A removals and storage van has become damaged after hitting a bridge which says on it, warning, very low bridge — Over the years, a number of vehicles have got stuck under the Ely bridge, including vans and lorries

Previously the bridge - near Ely railway station - has featured in Network Rail's top 10 list in fourth and fifth place.

In February, it was shut for more than two hours after a removal van got stuck underneath.

At the time of the incident, Cambridgeshire Police said: "Thankfully the bridge has more than nine lives."

In previous years, lorries and large vans, including one carrying trays of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, have all got wedged beneath the bridge.

Neighbour James Fuller said a pick-up struck the bridge on Monday night before being quickly driven off

John Devine/BBC Stonea Road bridge near Manea. It shows two parallel roads, one going under the railway line with slow written in yellow writing on the tarmac. The bridge has yellow signs saying low bridge and yellow warning stripes. Beside it and rising above to the railway line, a flat-bed lorry and a van can be seen waiting to cross the railway line once the barrier is lifted — Neighbour James Fuller said a pick-up struck the bridge on Monday night before being quickly driven off

Residents living near the 6ft 6inches-high (2m) Stonea Road bridge claimed it had been struck far more times than the 17 reported by Network Rail in 2023-24.

Tony Demetriou, 58, who moved to the area three months ago, said it had been hit "on average once a month" in that time, while neighbour James Fuller, 32, said Network Rail's figures were "so inaccurate, it's laughable".

Mr Fuller reckoned it had been bashed "50 times a year at least, and I'm being conservative, it's at least twice a week".

Mr Fuller wants the speed limit lowered at the bridge because it is "such a complex junction"

James Fuller A white van stuck under the Stonea Road Bridge with another one at its side, falling into the verge. A man is standing with his back to the viewer between the vans. The bridge has a sign above it by saying it is 2m or 6ft6in tall — Mr Fuller wants the speed limit lowered at the bridge because it is "such a complex junction"

Another resident, Pam Boss, 79, said: "That bridge has been hit three times in a fortnight, they hit the bridge, they pull themselves out of it and stop along the roadside.

"The only time it is reported is when a big vehicle gets wedged under the bridge."

Abbey Farm bridge in Thetford, Norfolk also featured on the list this year after it was struck 11 times, placing it eighth in the country.

Pam Boss and her neighbours said the bridge was frequently bashed but most incidents were not reported

John Devine/BBC Pam Boss standing by the side of the road. A house roof can be seen behind her and beyond her can be seen a road leading downhill to a railway bridge marked low bridge in yellow. She has fair, short hair, is wearing glasses and has pulled her brown jacket up to cover her mouth — Pam Boss and her neighbours said the bridge was frequently bashed but most incidents were not reported

Network Rail said the total number of bridge strikes had fallen in recent years, with 1,864 recorded in 2021-22 and 1,588 in 2022-23.

Group safety and engineering director Martin Frobisher said a vehicle hitting a bridge could cause "serious safety issues for road and rail users".

"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."

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