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Monday 8 Dec 2025

High-tech trial about to begin at Britain’s second most bashed bridge

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Eastern

| Eastern: East Coast

Harlaxton Road bridge in Grantham has become the country’s second most struck bridge – underlining just why Network Rail has selected the structure for a high-tech trial aimed at reducing delays and costs.

New figures reveal that the bridge, which carries the East Coast Main Line over a six-road junction, was hit 18 times in 2024/25 – up from 14 the previous year.

Network Rail today revealed this year’s top ten, which showed that only Watling Street bridge on the A5 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, was hit more times (22). Barrowby Road in Grantham – less than half a mile from Harlaxton Road – sits at number eight with 11 strikes.

Nationally, there were 1,666 reported bridge strikes by lorries and other high sided vehicles for the year to 31 March – one every five hours. This caused 186,384 minutes of delays – more than 120 days – and cost Britain’s rail industry around £12 million in delays and cancellations.

Earlier this year, Network Rail secured £50,000 funding and has partnered with risk-management specialists BES Group to trial a pioneering remote monitoring system at Harlaxton Road bridge, which already has prominent signage, chevrons and protective beams.

Cameras and sensors will be installed at the bridge before the end of December to massively speed up the process of checking that the bridge is safe to carry trains. A trial period of three months will check that the system meets Network Rail’s requirements.

The remote monitoring system provides real-time alerts using cameras and impact-sensing technology that captures data and video footage instantly after a collision. This allows engineers to assess the bridge remotely within seconds, reducing disruption for passengers and improving safety for staff who would otherwise need to inspect the structure on track.

Richard Woodford, Network Rail asset engineer, said:

“Bridge strikes cost the British rail industry millions of pounds a year in delays, cancellations and repairs. Harlaxton Road already has prominent signage, so this trial using technology aims to cut inspection times after a strike from hours to seconds in many cases.

“This means trains can run again much sooner, boosting the reliability of the railway and potentially saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in this one location alone.”

With the busy Christmas delivery period under way, Network Rail is urging haulage operators and their drivers to ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ by checking vehicle heights and planning suitable routes to avoid low bridges.

Network Rail works closely with industry partners to tackle bridge strikes, and its team of bridge strike champions continues to visit haulage companies across Britain to raise awareness and promote safer route planning. 

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s group safety and engineering director, said:

“With the busiest delivery period of the year under way, we’re reminding all drivers and operators to Wise up, Size Up – ensure they know their vehicle heights before they set off, plan their routes carefully, and watch for low bridge signs. A few moments of vigilance can prevent serious delays and keep everyone moving safely this festive season.”

Hideo Takano, senior structures advisor at National Highways, said:

“Bridge strikes can cause hours of disruption and pose serious safety risks. We understand how frustrating these delays are for road users, which is why we work alongside other transport authorities through the Bridge Strike Prevention Group to reduce the number of incidents.

“Two-thirds of strikes on our bridges involve vehicles carrying loads on open trailers. To help prevent them, we urge drivers to take three simple steps: know your vehicle height, plan your route and make sure your load is secure.”

To find out more about how bridge strikes affect the rail network, click here.