New tech plan for Grantham’s most bashed bridge

A bridge which is frequently struck by vehicles will have technology installed to vastly reduce the train delays and costs when incidents occur.

The remote monitoring equipment will mean engineers can check structures in seconds rather than hours after ‘bridge strikes’ – minimising disruption to services.

Network Rail has secured funding for a £50,000 trial using cameras and sensors on the East Coast Main Line at Grantham.

The Harlaxton Road structure – beside which six roads converge – was in the top five most-struck bridges nationally last year, despite having high profile signs, chevrons and protective beams.

The Victorian-era bridge has been struck by vehicles 11 times in the past nine months – including three in a week in November – costing the taxpayer over £600,000 in damage and delays.

Inspections currently require Network Rail engineers to visit the site and check bridges are safe for trains to run over them safely.

The new system of cameras and sensors will speed up this process massively by providing real-time alerts and access to data and video footage.

Cameras will provide visual indications after a bridge strike, while the sensors measure the impact and check the structure and rail tracks.

Michael Clegg, Network Rail route engineer, said: “We work tirelessly to reduce the needless disruption caused by bridge strikes, which nationally cost the British rail industry about £20m a year in delays, cancellations and repairs.

“While we know we cannot prevent all future incidents, this technology will cut the inspection time after a bridge strike from hours to seconds in many cases.

“This means we can have trains running again much sooner after a bridge strike, providing a boost to the reliability of the railway and saving potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds.

“We will also continue our efforts in other areas of our campaign against bridge strikes, including making proactive visits to haulage companies to encourage lorry drivers to plan routes carefully and check vehicle heights.”

If the technology trial proves successful, the same system will be installed at other suitable bridges in Grantham and further afield.