The Rail Accident and Investigation Branch (RAIB) have released an update following an examination after a train hit and demolished a footbridge on the Dean Forest Railway, Gloucestershire.

On Thursday, 14th August 2025, at 10:55 am, a footbridge at St Mary’s Halt connecting public footpaths on both sides of the line was struck by a maintenance train.

The maintenance train was carrying a 360-degree excavator digger on a flatbed wagon, which had been loaded onto the train at Lydney Junction.

The boom of the digger had been left in an out-of-gauge position following its loading onto the wagon, and this struck the footbridge, causing major destruction and collapsing onto the train.

The train also consisted of a brake van carrying railway volunteers, though thankfully, no one was injured in the incident.

The RAIB will release a safety digest in due course.