Network Rail is to spend £800,000 carrying out significant works to Brotherton bridge near Knottingley in North Yorkshire over the August bank holiday weekend, causing disruption to some passenger journeys.

The bridge spans the River Aire, and has carried trains since the middle of the nineteenth century. It was originally built as a tubular railway bridge during Victorian times, but its superstructure was replaced with a steel bridge in 1903.

That steel bridge is still carrying trains to this day, and is part of a complex of viaducts with approach arches on either side of the river. Network Rail describes the bridge as “a significant piece of railway engineering infrastructure”.

The bank holiday weekend work will see Network Rail engineers renew the track support system across the bridge by replacing ageing sections with modern fibre-reinforced components. They will also carry out repairs and repainting on the bridge while scaffolding is in place.

Over the same weekend, Network Rail workers will also renew 1.4 kilometres of track at Sherburn in Elmet.

The bank holiday work will disrupt some Northern and TransPennine Express journeys in the area. Full details of timetable changes and replacement buses are available from Network Rail and train operators Northern and Transpennine Express.

This is one of several work projects being carried out over the forthcoming bank holiday weekend. Others include the replacement of the Saltley Viaduct in the Birmingham area and East Coast Digital Programme work south of Peterborough.

“Brotherton Bridge is a key piece of railway infrastructure, and these works will see the renewal of waybeams, which support the rails across structures like bridges, alongside essential repairs and repainting.

“Combining this work with track renewal at Sherburn in Elmet allows us to make the best use of the time the railway is closed and deliver improvements that will support smoother, more reliable journeys.

“We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected and appreciate the understanding of passengers while the work is carried out.”

Karen Duffy, Network Rail operations director