Limpley Stoke Bridge Strike (Monday 23/03/2026)

[chipbury]

Local media (The Wiltshire Times - see link below) are reporting a bridge strike at Limpley Stoke where the B3108 goes under the line. It appears that the line from Bradford on Avon is closed (Tracksy shows BLOC after Bradford junction) but the line from Bath to Bradford may still be open.

This bridge has a history of strikes and only last year had some repairs that closed the road for a couple of weeks.

Railway line blocked after vehicle hits low bridge in Wiltshire

Follow this live blog for updates on railway journeys in Wiltshire.

www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk

The Stokeford underline bridge near Freshford is damaged, which has cancelled journeys by rail from Trowbridge to Bath, though the road underneath it remains open.~

Due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge between Bath Spa and Westbury, the line is blocked.

Train services running through these stations have been cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.

 

[edwin_m]

National Rail suggesting significant damage: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service-disruptions/freshford-20260323/

Network Rail engineers are on site. As a result of the severity of the strike to the bridge, it will remain closed for the rest of today for repairs.

 

[Snow1964]

Happens frequently at this bridge, trucks turn off the A36 (a designated trunk road because there is now an 18t weight restriction on Cleveland Bridge which is Route to M4 ) find they can't turn around and then hit the bridge.

The road does a sharp left turn just before the bridge so all the yellow warning stripes are only visible right at last moment. Really they should have put a steel bridge bash beam in on the A36 side

For those not familiar there used to be a third span which was the Camerton branch track, it was built later, and the brick abutments of this part are different colour brick. I have included a streetview link of the approach to the bridge which shows why vehicles don't easily spot it is low bridge. All the overhanging vegetation is where Network Rail have allowed it to grow on the trackbed of lifted third track.

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[John Webb]

Looking at the 'Street view' there doesn't seem to be any warning sign of the low bridge either!

 

[chipbury]

Here's two photo's to show the before and after of the structural repairs they did in 2024 - it looks like a new top beam was fitted. In 2025 they closed the road and did repairs underneath and did a complete repaint.

 

[Snow1964]

There is also something odd and confusing about the height sign of 4.1m or 13'9" because not same.

4.1m is nearer 13'5" and 13'9" is 4.191m

Looking at the 'Street view' there doesn't seem to be any warning sign of the low bridge either!

The signposting needs some improvement, there is nothing warning of the low bridge on A36 at the junction signs either.

But there is this sign (with different heights) stuck underneath a speed limit sign, just before a narrower stone parapet bridge over a culvert (where watching for the narrow bridge is probably higher priority than reading few row rows of text)

Street View · Google Maps

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www.google.com

 

[vlad]

There is also something odd and confusing about the height sign of 4.1m or 13'9" because not same.

4.1m is nearer 13'5" and 13'9" is 4.191m

That'll be because of the way they measure bridge heights.

The height in metres and feet are measured separately, then increased decreased to the nearest 0.1 m or 3" - this is to ensure that whether you know the height of your vehicle in feet or metres you'll fit under it if it's exactly what's signed. Assuming of course the height hasn't changed since it was last measured.

If you see a sign with a height showing 13' 5" then the rules haven't been followed.

 

[simonw]

That'll be because of the way they measure bridge heights.

The height in metres and feet are measured separately, then increased to the nearest 0.1 m or 3" - this is to ensure that whether you know the height of your vehicle in feet or metres you'll fit under it if it's exactly what's signed. Assuming of course the height hasn't changed since it was last measured.

If you see a sign with a height showing 13' 5" then the rules haven't been followed.

Do you mean reduce it? Increasing it would make people believe it's higher than it is.

 

[edwin_m]

The signposting needs some improvement, there is nothing warning of the low bridge on A36 at the junction signs either.

But there is this sign (with different heights) stuck underneath a speed limit sign, just before a narrower stone parapet bridge over a culvert (where watching for the narrow bridge is probably higher priority than reading few row rows of text)

Street View · Google Maps

Explore a place in a more immersive way in Google Maps.

www.google.com

There's nowhere with the physical space to turn an HGV between the left turn immediately after that sign and the right turn into Limpley Stoke immediately before the bridge, and attempting a turn at either would be difficult, disruptive and probably dangerous without a second person present.

I think there may be another bridge warning sign hidden in the hedge on the view below, but if that's what it is then it's obviously useless unless the vegetation has been cut back.

I assume the scenario is that a truck driver northbound on the A36 realises they can't go through Bath and turns right onto this road to use the A363 instead, having avoided the weight restriction at Bradford. That being so, they need to be advised that neither route is suitable far enough south that they can find an alternative. I don't see any such sign approaching the turns for either the A350 via Wesbury or the A361 via Trowbridge.

 

[Snow1964]

I assume the scenario is that a truck driver northbound on the A36 realises they can't go through Bath and turns right onto this road to use the A363 instead, having avoided the weight restriction at Bradford. That being so, they need to be advised that neither route is suitable far enough south that they can find an alternative. I don't see any such sign approaching the turns for either the A350 via Wesbury or the A361 via Trowbridge.

That is the problem, any truck coming along A36 (and of course it is also a route from Portsmouth and Poole channel ports too, so might have drivers not familiar with quirks of UK), is faced with 18t restrictions both at Bath or Bradford on Avon, and the B Road through Limpley Stoke appears to be an alternative short link route to A363 to Bathford and thus onto A46 to join M4 and M5

 

[The exile]

Do you mean reduce it? Increasing it would make people believe it's higher than it is.

If it’s on the vehicle then it should be increased - if it’s on the bridge it should be decreased - though the mere fact that that creates a “gap” of up to 6 inches may in itself encourage risk taking.

 

[cats_five]

If it’s on the vehicle then it should be increased - if it’s on the bridge it should be decreased - though the mere fact that that creates a “gap” of up to 6 inches may in itself encourage risk taking.

A 6" gap can be nowhere near enough if the road undulates

 

[The exile]

A 6" gap can be nowhere near enough if the road undulates

Though that should surely be taken into account on the signs.

 

[vlad]

Do you mean reduce it? Increasing it would make people believe it's higher than it is.

You're right of course. If the bridge is measured as, say, 14.19 m it'll be reduced to 14.1 m, meaning the bridge is higher than the signs state.

(Memo to self: think before engaging keyboard. )

 

[chipbury]

There's nowhere with the physical space to turn an HGV between the left turn immediately after that sign and the right turn into Limpley Stoke immediately before the bridge, and attempting a turn at either would be difficult, disruptive and probably dangerous without a second person present.

I've seen the police stopping traffic and directing trucks that have struggled to turn - it's tricky as they are reversing uphill from the bridge for most of the manouevre to get back to the A36!

 

[JohnRegular]

(...) the line from Bath to Bradford may still be open.

The eastbound line was reopened relatively quickly - by the time of your post at least one train had made it through.

Some westbound trains were diverted via Melksham.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If it’s on the vehicle then it should be increased - if it’s on the bridge it should be decreased - though the mere fact that that creates a “gap” of up to 6 inches may in itself encourage risk taking.

A few years ago we had a lorry driver come onto this forum and he openly boasted in quite a few of his posts that he deliberately ignored the height restriction signs because he "knew they were all wrong" and that "he knew it would fit under"...!!!

 

[sharpener]

Happens frequently at this bridge, trucks turn off the A36 (a designated trunk road because there is now an 18t weight restriction on Cleveland Bridge which is Route to M4 ) find they can't turn around and then hit the bridge.

I used to work in an office in central Staines. Watching the same thing happen at the low bridge there was a highlight of the lunch hour.

It amazes me that the cost of better thought out signage, bash beams etc would not be quickly recovered through less physical damage to bridges. Or really punitive charges for truck drivers and/or their insurers.

 

[The exile]

The eastbound line was reopened relatively quickly - by the time of your post at least one train had made it through.

Some westbound trains were diverted via Melksham.

To add a bit of interest, a tree has now come down somewhere in the Bradford area - not a good week for those who need that bit of the line.

 

[swt_passenger]

Looking at the 'Street view' there doesn't seem to be any warning sign of the low bridge either!

There are definitely advance warning signs 200 yards either side, although in one case they’re buried by the hedge…

 

[edwin_m]

To add a bit of interest, a tree has now come down somewhere in the Bradford area - not a good week for those who need that bit of the line.

Exactly what happened back in December (?) when that plus Bath market and rugby resulted in absolute chaos.

I'm supposed to be going there tomorrow so I hope it's fixed soon.

 

[Snow1964]

Exactly what happened back in December (?) when that plus Bath market and rugby resulted in absolute chaos.

I'm supposed to be going there tomorrow so I hope it's fixed soon.

A Portsmouth-Cardiff train came through about half an hour ago, lots of cancellations though. An empty train heading north Westbury-Bristol passed about 16:45 so appears both tracks open now.

 

[JohnRegular]

A Portsmouth-Cardiff train came through about half an hour ago, lots of cancellations though. An empty train heading north Westbury-Bristol passed about 16:45 so appears both tracks open now.

A Portsmouth-bound train has also now passed, can confirm the line has reopened.

On a speculative thread there has been discussion about doubling and additional chords on the Melksham line - would have been valuable this week given the diversions.

 

[Parallel]

To add a bit of interest, a tree has now come down somewhere in the Bradford area - not a good week for those who need that bit of the line.

It’s arguably more than just that bit of line, Monday (and today but to a lesser extent) caused widespread crew and unit displacement across the Bristol and Wessex regions saw delays and cancellations across the region.

The disruption strategy has also been inconsistent and confusing. On Monday they ran the local booked service as well as diverted services via Melksham, before cancelling the local booked services but it wasn’t obvious what was (or wasn’t) diverting and where trains were calling.

Westbury station also becomes a bottleneck very quickly with only three platforms.

 

[The exile]

It’s arguably more than just that bit of line, Monday (and today but to a lesser extent) caused widespread crew and unit displacement across the Bristol and Wessex regions saw delays and cancellations across the region.

The disruption strategy has also been inconsistent and confusing. On Monday they ran the local booked service as well as diverted services via Melksham, before cancelling the local booked services but it wasn’t obvious what was (or wasn’t) diverting and where trains were calling.

Westbury station also becomes a bottleneck very quickly with only three platforms.

Yes - unfortunately the first casualty seems to be clear messaging /announcements to the travelling public.

 

[Snow1964]

Yes - unfortunately the first casualty seems to be clear messaging /announcements to the travelling public.

All the local stations are unstaffed in afternoons (Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Melksham, Frome, Warminster, Freshford, Avoncliff, Dilton Marsh etc).

And when there is an incident Westbury signal box and control are generally pretty hopeless at prioritising giving clear information to passengers waiting for trains, and ensuring websites showing train running and alternatives are clear and upto date. Of course they will be busy during disruption, but they seem to forget the disrupted passengers are contributing to their wages, and don't therefore give them the priority they deserve with information. They end up allowing stupid effects like allowing automatic station announcements to say delayed, please listen to announcements etc. Then it just repeats with no specific suggestions.

 

[The exile]

All the local stations are unstaffed in afternoons (Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Melksham, Frome, Warminster, Freshford, Avoncliff, Dilton Marsh etc).

And when there is an incident Westbury signal box and control are generally pretty hopeless at prioritising giving clear information to passengers waiting for trains, and ensuring websites showing train running and alternatives are clear and upto date. Of course they will be busy during disruption, but they seem to forget the disrupted passengers are contributing to their wages, and don't therefore give them the priority they deserve with information. They end up allowing stupid effects like allowing automatic station announcements to say delayed, please listen to announcements etc. Then it just repeats with no specific suggestions.

The wrong information that affected me was at Bristol Parkway - the complete lack of it was at Temple Meads.

 

[Dave61]

A few years ago we had a lorry driver come onto this forum and he openly boasted in quite a few of his posts that he deliberately ignored the height restriction signs because he "knew they were all wrong" and that "he knew it would fit under"...!!!

There is a low bridge just south of Nottingham where a lorry in front of me triggered the "Overheight Vehicle" warning lights and merrily continued on their way. How they missed it I don't know but from behind it looks very close!

I guess if they go back and forth then they know their vehicle limits....until they don't.

 

[edwin_m]

There is a low bridge just south of Nottingham where a lorry in front of me triggered the "Overheight Vehicle" warning lights and merrily continued on their way. How they missed it I don't know but from behind it looks very close!

I guess if they go back and forth then they know their vehicle limits....until they don't.

For example if the road has been resurfaced it might get a bit higher.

 

[cats_five]

For example if the road has been resurfaced it might get a bit higher.

Does the height signage get reviewed after the road is resurfaced?