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Wednesday 30 Jul 2025

Vehicle-bashed Brighton Main Line bridge set to have protection beam installed

Region & Route:

Southern

Essential improvement work to take place on bridge near Coulsdon South station to help prevent vehicle strikes damaging railway bridges.

Network Rail is to fit special beams to a bridge carrying one of Britain’s busiest main line rail routes, to provide protection from lorries and other HGVs that crash into it.

The Brighton Road bridge near Coulsdon South station, which carries hundreds of thousands of passengers on the Brighton Main Line over the A23, has been hit many times by large vehicles too tall to fit underneath, causing major delays and disruption to train services.

To tackle this, Network Rail will install specially designed steel protection beams and support frames that absorb vehicle impacts and protect the structure.

Car park closures

To carry out the work safely, parts of Coulsdon South station car park will be closed on the following dates:

• Monday 1 September to Friday 17 October 2025: up to 14 standard parking spaces will be unavailable. The blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces will remain available.

• Saturday 18 to Sunday 19 October 2025: the main car park will be closed while a crane is used to lift the protection beam into place.

There will be no access to the main car park and blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces. Alternative blue badge spaces are available at the station building.

• Monday 20 to Friday 29 October 2025: up to 14 standard parking spaces will again be unavailable. The blue badge and electric vehicle charging spaces will remain available.

Road closures and station access

At times, traffic management will be in place on Brighton Road to support the work:

• Night-time road closures will run Monday to Friday, 21:00 to 05:30 from 08/09/2025 to 17/10/2025
• Full weekend road closures will be in place 24/7 during Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October.

Access to Coulsdon South station will be maintained throughout:

• During midweek road closures, passengers can still reach the station via a left turn before the closure point
• During weekend closures, access will be available from the south side of the station

Network Rail will work closely with local authorities, Southern Rail and its contractors to minimise disruption and ensure safe access for all motorists and pedestrians.

Lucy McCauliffe, Sussex Route Director, Network Rail, said: “We work hard to prevent bridges being hit across the railway by improving signs, educating drivers, and trialling new technology like over-height vehicle detection systems. But where it continues to happen, we also install protection beams like these to shield vital infrastructure. This work at Brighton Road will help reduce delays and improve the reliability of services for thousands of passengers each day.

“I would like to thank the local community and car park users for their patience while we carry out this important upgrade.”

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for Southern that manages Coulsdon South station, said: “This work is really important if we’re to reduce delays for the hundreds of thousands of people who use the Brighton Main Line.

“However, it will significantly reduce the number of spaces in our popular, busy station car park during much of September and October, so it’s important we tell people what’s happening as soon as possible.”

How the railway works to prevent bridge strikes

Bridge strikes are a serious issue that can cause delays, damage and disruption. In addition to installing protection beams, Network Rail works to prevent bridge strikes through a range of measures, including:

• Improved signage: clearer, more visible warnings for drivers approaching low bridges
• Technology trials: using over-height vehicle detection systems to alert drivers before they reach a bridge
• Driver education: awareness campaigns in partnership with the freight and haulage industry
• Collaboration with local authorities: coordinated traffic management and enforcement near vulnerable structures
• Rapid response protocols: quick inspections and repairs to minimise disruption when strikes do occur.

Bridge strikes: when and where they occur - Network Rail