A Birmingham railway bridge on Summer Lane in Erdington was hit by lorries twice in the same morning, sparking renewed calls from Network Rail for drivers to “wise up, size up” and know the height of their vehicles.
The first collision occurred just before 10am on 7 January. After being inspected and deemed safe, the bridge reopened—only to be struck again at around 12:10pm. On this second occasion, the lorry’s trailer roof was torn off and left hanging over the road. Both incidents caused significant delays on the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.
These two crashes came on the heels of another collision on 3 January, making it three in less than a week for the same location. Network Rail says the repeated damage underscores the importance of lorry drivers planning their routes carefully and never relying solely on sat-navs or mapping apps for height restrictions.
“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,”
said Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail’s Central route.
“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.”
Long-Standing Issue
Recent figures show there were 65 bridge bashes across the West Midlands from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, resulting in 8,838 minutes of delays—equivalent to more than six days—across the rail network. The worst locations include Cradley Road in Cradley Heath, Station Road near Berkswell station, and Birmingham Road in Warwick, with 10 incidents between them.
Network Rail continues to urge all HGV drivers to accurately measure their vehicles and check route restrictions before setting off. By taking these precautions, drivers can help prevent costly disruptions and damage to local roads and railway infrastructure.
