Network Rail has again warned lorry drivers to know the height of their vehicles after a skip lorry severely damaged a railway bridge at Kenilworth on a key route in Warwickshire.
Emergency repairs costing more than £200,000 had to be made to the bridge at Warwick Road in Kenilworth after a skip wagon hit it on 20th March.
The vehicle smash caused significant damage to the bridge's central arch, forcing the temporary closure of the railway above.
To get freight and passenger trains moving again, temporary supports had to be installed to shore up the structure.
Speed restrictions for trains had to be put in place while the repairs were carried out.
What did the officials say?
Marc Vipham, route asset manager at Network Rail, said:
“Freight is critical to the nation's response to the coronavirus crisis. Closing a key line for freight traffic has serious impacts delivering critical supplies to many key workers and institutions. For this very reason, our engineers worked rapidly to find a safe way to secure the bridge and keep the railway open.
“However, all of this hard work should have been unnecessary. Bridge strikes like this are entirely avoidable, cost taxpayers millions of pounds and cause delays to tens of thousands of rail passengers and freight every year. Lorries can't limbo. I can't stress enough how important it is for drivers to know the height of their vehicle.”
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It is the driver’s responsibilty to know the height and width of his lorry and its load. The bridge restriction sign is clear … thus the accident and damage he has caused is because failed to comply with the warning sign. Thus he is negligent of criminal damage and needs to be charged accordingly. He or his insurance should bear the brunt of the cost of repairs and when it finally costs insurance companies in their pocket they will act to ensure that lorry drivers become responsible drivers. These regular strikes are costing millions.
The ‘cowboy’ road haulage industry will no doubt escape with a ‘slap on the wrists’ ….. again……… and again !
Years ago, a beam was fitted across the road ahead of a Railway Bridge in Station Road, Erdington, Birmingham. If an overheight vehicle broke the beam, a warning light would flash “Warning, overheight Vehicle, divert” with an arrow pointing in the direction for the diversion. It cured bridge strikes on that particular bridge so it should be brought in nationwide. Meantime, the Lorry Drivers involved should be fined and banned
You are right Simon, charge the driver or Company, I’ve never seen so many unprofessional, professional drivers, driving with one hand in the on the top middle of the steering wheel, no indication given, driving on your bumper, there’s an awful lot of them about. Do not know how they pass the test, tough guy drivers !!!
Apparently, waste removal is an essential service.
Was the truck driver over the drink & drive limit or probably was suffering from fatigue which might of been the cause of the bridge strike and damages to the bridge structure at Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Well perhaps the lorry driver should be invoiced for the damage caused? It’s no good pussy-footing around these idiots. Hit them where it hurts. But why exactly would a skip lorry be on the road at this time anyway?