B1098 Stonea revealed as UK’s ‘most bashed bridge’

Network Rail has revealed that more than 1800 bridges were hit by vehicles in 2021/22 with the Fenland bridge at Stonea near March ‘top of the bashes’ with 33 impacts

Other Anglia structures at Abbey Farm in Thetford and Coddenham Road bridge in Needham Market also make it to the top 10 list with a surprise return entry by the Stuntney Road bridge in Ely

The Stonea Road bridge on the B1098 has taken the top spot from Coddenham Road bridge the year before.

Network Rail says the cost to them for repairing the Stonea bridge amounted to £10,526 in unnecessary train delay and cancellation costs.

The other “big hitters” on the list in Anglia include the bridge at Abbey Farm in Thetford with 15 strikes to its name last year.

Stuntney Road bridge in Ely makes the top ten list again with 12 strikes despite a new bypass having been opened in 2018.

The Coddenham Road bridge on the B1078, which held the title of ‘most bashed bridge’ in Britain in 2020/21 with 19 strikes, continues to make the top ten this time around, being struck ten times last year.

The latest figures come as Network Rail launches a new animation as part of its ongoing ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign.

“The campaign reminds lorry drivers and haulage operators to take better care,” said a Network Rail spokesperson.

“It is important drivers know the height of their vehicles and choosing suitable routes before they head out on journeys.”

The spokesperson added: “While incidents have reduced in recent years, numbers have steadily started to creep up again – coinciding with an estimated increase in traffic volume on Britain’s roads.

“Overall, provisional estimates show motor vehicles travelled 318.6 billion vehicle miles in Great Britain from April 2021 to March 2022 – a 29.7% increase compared to the year ending March 2021.

“Lorry traffic, in particular, increased by 10.1% to 17.8 billion vehicle miles.”

Ellie Burrows, Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said: “Bridge strikes cause unnecessary delays, costs and safety issues for road and rail users.

“To compound matters, they drain public funds which should be used on upgrading and improving our network.

Most struck railway bridges in Britain 2021/22:

Stonea Road, Stonea, Cambridgeshire 33 strikes

Lower Down’s Road, Wimbledon, London 18 strikes

Harlaxton Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire 17 strikes

Abbey Farm, Thetford, Norfolk 15 strikes

Stuntney Road, Ely, Cambridgeshire 12 strikes

Harefield Road, Brakespeare Road South, West Ruislip, London 12 strikes

Station Road B4105, Berkswell, Solihull 12 strikes

Station Road, Langley, Berkshire 12 strikes

St John’s Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire 11 strikes

Coddenham Road, Needham Market, Suffolk 10 strikes

Bridge strikes reported across the railway network in the last five financial years:

Year 2017/18 – 2,039 strikes

Year 2018/19 – 1,926 strikes

Year 2019/20 – 1,720 strikes

Year 2020/21 – 1,624 strikes

Year 2021/22 – 1,833 strikes