New technology hopes to cut delays as number of rail bridge strikes increases

INCIDENTS of vehicles striking Britain's railway bridges rose by 9% in a year, new figures show.

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Network Rail said 1,666 bridge strikes were reported in the year to the end of March.

That is up from 1,532 during the previous 12 months, and represents an average of one every five hours.

The collisions in 2024/25 caused more than 186,000 minutes of delays to passenger trains and cost the industry an estimated £12 million.

Britain's most-bashed bridge during that period was Watling Street in Hickley, Leicestershire, which was struck 22 times.

That was followed by Harlaxton Road in Grantham, Lincolnshire (18 strikes), despite having warning signs, chevrons and protective beams.