Same bridge hit twice by lorries in two hours - and three times in four days

A railway bridge was hit twice in just a little over two hours by lorries, just four days after another HGV was left on its side at the same location.

The bridge over Summer Lane, Erdington, which carries the Cross City North line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, was hit at around 1000 on Tuesday January 7. The bridge had to be inspected by Network Rail before it could be reopened after the driver failed to stop.

Just two hours later, at 1210, a trailer’s roof was ripped off and left hanging over the road when a second lorry was driven into the bridge.

The bridge was closed for a second time, reopening at 1345.

The two incidents come after an HGV was left marooned on its side after the driver tried to fit it under the bridge.

Network Rail is again issuing its plea for lorry drivers to ‘wise up, size up’, which includes knowing the height of their vehicles, planning routes and not relying on sat-navs or map apps to be up-to-date for bridges and height restrictions.

Between April 1 2023 and Match 31 2024 there were 1,532 bridge strikes across the country, including 65 in the West Midlands.

Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail’s Central route, said: “There is no excuse for driving a lorry into a railway bridge. Our bridges are clearly marked, and lorry drivers should always know the height restrictions of their vehicles. To ignore both and bash a bridge, causing disruption to passengers and road users, is unforgivable.

“We are looking into what might have caused this recent spate of bridge bashes but I plead with all drivers to know their vehicle restrictions and if in doubt about whether they can fit under a bridge to always use an alternative route.”