<sigh> Bridge Strike near Middlesbrough

[70014IronDuke]

Looks like yet another bridge strike -this one between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y65919/2017/02/20/advanced

earlier Whitby train 30+ late - not sure if it's the same reason.

I just can't understand why they don't put up huge steel bars like they do in eastern Europe to protect bridges. Change the law if necessary. It's plain economic sense. They are gonnna hit the bridge - so just make sure they hit the bar first.

 

[furnessvale]

Looks like yet another bridge strike -this one between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y65919/2017/02/20/advanced

earlier Whitby train 30+ late - not sure if it's the same reason.

I just can't understand why they don't put up huge steel bars like they do in eastern Europe to protect bridges. Change the law if necessary. It's plain economic sense. They are gonnna hit the bridge - so just make sure they hit the bar first.

Sadly, this is not news. Nearly FIVE per day on average on Network Rail.

 

[Anvil1984]

Bridge strike was between Eaglescliffe and Middlesbrough . Delays on services out of Middlesbrough as drivers for the 1028 Whitby and 1032 Newcastle services travel from Darlington on the service which should get to Boro at 1022 (got there at 1100 today)

The Hexham to Nunthorpe was probably terminated early to keep the single line clear for the Whitby

 

[al78]

Looks like yet another bridge strike -this one between Middlesbrough and Nunthorpe

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y65919/2017/02/20/advanced

earlier Whitby train 30+ late - not sure if it's the same reason.

I just can't understand why they don't put up huge steel bars like they do in eastern Europe to protect bridges. Change the law if necessary. It's plain economic sense. They are gonnna hit the bridge - so just make sure they hit the bar first.

Maybe even revoke the drivers licence. If someone chooses to drive along a road that is unsuitable for their vehicle, and there are adequate warnings to that effect, can they really be classed as a competant driver (which is what is required to hold a license).

 

[najaB]

Maybe even revoke the drivers licence. If someone chooses to drive along a road that is unsuitable for their vehicle, and there are adequate warnings to that effect, can they really be classed as a competant driver (which is what is required to hold a license).

To save rehashing the same arguments, have a look at this thread: Bridge Strikes.

 

[Paul Duck]

Bridge strike was just north of Eaglescliffe station. Well I say Bridge strike it never happened the skip lorry stopped before the bridge after the in cab warnings sounded alerting the driver to a low bridge ahead.
The staff for the whitby service travel on the Northern service at 0953 out of Darlington and were stuck at Eaglescliffe hence why Whitby service at 1028 was delayed.

 

[Robertj21a]

So there wasn't any bridge strike after all ?

 

[snowball]

It seems it was a Trump bridge strike.

 

[Robertj21a]

It seems it was a Trump bridge strike.

Perhaps it was a bridge in Sweden that got hit ?

 

[rebmcr]

Perhaps it was a bridge in Sweden that got hit ?

A møøse once hit my bridge.

 

[jopsuk]

There are, however, 3-4 bridge strikes a day across the network on average for the past few years.

 

[AndrewE]

Bridge strike was just north of Eaglescliffe station. Well I say Bridge strike it never happened the skip lorry stopped before the bridge after the in cab warnings sounded alerting the driver to a low bridge ahead.
The staff for the whitby service travel on the Northern service at 0953 out of Darlington and were stuck at Eaglescliffe hence why Whitby service at 1028 was delayed.

This is amazing. Are the railways now so risk-averse that even when a bridge is not hit our train services are disrupted?

I'm all for huge solid sacrificial girders to protect bridges, and the immediate suspension of driving licences too (with restoration if found innocent.) None of this continuing to offend / jeopardising the safety of the rest of us pending a court case - which might get dropped anyway.

 

[Llanigraham]

This is amazing. Are the railways now so risk-averse that even when a bridge is not hit our train services are disrupted?

Yes we are "risk averse". If we get a report that a bridge has been hit, then depending on the "grade" of that bridge, the job may stop, until it is CONFIRMED to our satisfaction that either it was a false report or that there is no damage.

 

[RJ]

Maybe even revoke the drivers licence. If someone chooses to drive along a road that is unsuitable for their vehicle, and there are adequate warnings to that effect, can they really be classed as a competant driver (which is what is required to hold a license).

As a PCV driver, I agree with this. Anyone stupid enough to crash into a marked low bridge needs to have their licence revoked and find some other way of earning an income. Unless they're just so unlucky enough to unexpectedly lose utility of the foot and handbrake when approaching it.

In some cases, a lot more could be done to warn drivers of the impending hazard - Beford Road in Clapham for example has no warnings on any road signs prior to entering the road from the Acre Lane direction. First warning is well into the road, by which time an awkward manoeuvre is required to get out. But there are no excuses for actually hitting a bridge if it is correctly marked - anyone who's competent to be on the road would stop and seek assistance in setting back if needs be.