Harlaxton Road bridge in Grantham is set to host a major technology trial after new figures confirmed it is now the second most bashed bridge in Britain. The structure, which carries the East Coast Main Line over a busy junction, was struck 18 times in 2024/25, up from 14 the previous year.
Only Watling Street bridge on the A5 in Hinckley saw more strikes, with 22 incidents. Another Grantham location, Barrowby Road, also made the national top ten with 11 strikes.
Across Britain, there were 1,666 reported bridge strikes in the year to 31 March, equating to one every five hours. These incidents caused more than 186,000 minutes of delay and cost the rail industry around £12 million.
To tackle the problem, Network Rail has secured £50,000 to trial a remote monitoring system at Harlaxton Road in partnership with risk-management specialists BES Group. Sensors and cameras will be installed before the end of December to provide real-time alerts and video footage within seconds of an impact. Engineers will then be able to assess the bridge remotely, dramatically reducing the time the railway is closed while checks are carried out.
Richard Woodford, Network Rail asset engineer, said:
“Bridge strikes cost the British rail industry millions of pounds a year in delays, cancellations and repairs. Harlaxton Road already has prominent signage, so this trial using technology aims to cut inspection times after a strike from hours to seconds in many cases. This means trains can run again much sooner, boosting the reliability of the railway and potentially saving hundreds of thousands of pounds in this one location alone.”
With the Christmas delivery season in full swing, Network Rail is urging hauliers to ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ by checking vehicle heights and planning routes to avoid low bridges. Its dedicated team of bridge strike champions continues to work with operators across the country to raise awareness.
Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s group safety and engineering director, added:
“With the busiest delivery period of the year under way, we’re reminding all drivers and operators to Wise up, Size Up – ensure they know their vehicle heights before they set off, plan their routes carefully, and watch for low bridge signs. A few moments of vigilance can prevent serious delays and keep everyone moving safely this festive season.”
National Highways echoed the call for vigilance, noting that two-thirds of its bridge strikes involve vehicles with open trailers and unsecured loads.
If successful, the three-month trial at Harlaxton Road could pave the way for wider use of rapid-response monitoring to cut delays, reduce costs and improve safety for staff and passengers.
