Cambridgeshire rail line reopens after bridge is hit by a lorry

A Cambridgeshire bridge has reopened to rail services ahead of schedule after it was hit by a lorry yesterday (Monday 7 September).

The lorry caused extensive damage to the bridge in Coldhams Lane, Cambridge and the rail line was expected to be closed until Wednesday. Network Rail’s engineers have worked quickly overnight in order to reopen the line to passengers as soon as possible.

The road has also reopened to motorists.

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Our engineers have worked quickly through the night to reopen the line as soon as possible, but this whole incident could have been avoided. Drivers need to know the height of their vehicle. Bridge strikes cost taxpayers millions of pounds and cause delays to tens of thousands of rail passengers every year.”

Bridge strikes are a costly problem for the railway and can cause delays to train services and on the road network while damage is repaired.

Most of the vehicles that hit railway bridges are Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and buses, at a cost of around £13,000 per strike –costing the UK taxpayer around £23m a year.

To find out more about Network Rail’s wise up, size up campaign go to www.networkrail.co.uk/wiseupsizeup

Photo credit: Network Rail

For today’s rail news from railbusinessdaily.com click here.

Download article