Wednesday 7 Jul 2010
BROADS BRIDGE REPAIRS GET SOMERLEYTON SWINGING
- Region & Route:
- | Southern
Boat users on the Broads are celebrating after Network Rail engineers successfully completed repairs to Somerleyton swing bridge over the weekend.
Damage to the bridge’s pivot mechanism had left the bridge jammed shut since early May, leaving fixed-mast and fly bridge craft on the River Waveney unable to pass through in either direction.
The unique design of the bridge, which was built more than a century ago, meant that a replacement part had to be ‘reverse engineered’ and custom made before installation and testing could take place.
Andrew Munden, Network Rail route director for Anglia, said: “Network Rail has got Somerleyton back in action for boat users. Since taking on responsibility for Somerleyton and the other swing bridges on the Broads we’ve had to learn about their design and understand how they work almost from scratch. Thanks to the efforts of our engineers we’re now much better placed to make sure they keep swinging well into the future.
“Running a 21st century railway on Edwardian infrastructure is a challenge and we thank boat users for their patience while we carried out vital repairs to this unique structure.”
In recognition of the disruption some boat users may have encountered while the bridge was unable to swing, Network Rail is funding a mooring pontoon upstream of Somerleyton bridge where yachts can lower their masts safely and where vessels can wait safely for a bridge swing.
Trudi Wakelin, director of waterways for the Broads Authority, said: “This has been a trying and testing time for all parties concerned, and the Authority has made strenuous efforts to ensure Network Rail understand the key importance of this bridge to the users of the statutory navigation and also the local economy.
“Through good cooperation we have achieved a positive outcome, including a partnership delivery of enhanced mooring provision, and we hope that this relationship can further develop in the future.”
Notes to editors
Somerleyton swing bridge, like its sister bridge at Reedham, was built in 1905 to replace the single track bridges that carried the railway between Norwich and Lowestoft over the Yare and Waveney rivers. Both bridges are constructed from wrought iron, brick, cast steel and timber.
Network Rail engineers also continue to work on Trowse bridge on the river Yare in Norwich, which has been unable to be opened mechanically since the computer-controlled lifting system suffered a catastrophic failure following a power surge in June 2008. The bridge can only be opened manually between 1.30am and 4am with a week’s notice, as it takes two hours to operate with a full crew.
Network Rail has invested heavily in Trowse bridge during its mechanical closure, replacing computers (including a back up computer system in the event of future failures) new software and new and refurbished hydraulic valves. Engineers are hopeful that the bridge will be fully operational in the near future.
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