Bridge Strike

Why bridge strikes cause delays - and what the industry is doing to reduce the delays

Bridge strikes - where a vehicle crashes into a bridge that carries the railway or into a bridge over the railway - are a significant problem.

After a bridge has been hit, no trains can travel over it until it has been checked to make sure that it is safe. Trains may have to divert or be cancelled, all leading to delays for passengers.

What the industry is doing to reduce bridge strikes

• Working with the Department for Transport and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport to raise awareness of the problems with managers involved in road maintenance and road transport
• Foreign language guides have been produced for drivers from other countries who are unfamiliar with our roads or are driving left-hand-drive vehicles; the guides are endorsed by the European Transport Safety Council
• Produced a training course for the driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) with partners from the freight industry and construction plant hire sector