Road Bridge over railway - whose responsibility?

[PaxVobiscum]

Trying to find a structure number to fill in a report to Network Rail but it occurred to me that the bridge in question (which carries a minor road over the railway) might actually be the Local Authority's responsibility.

What it the general rule about this? There's no plate visible on the bridge from any publicly accessible place at any rate.

This is about a road bridge (signed as "weak bridge") which may be having its weight limit exceeded by construction traffic carrying bulk soil. If so, I imagine Network Rail would be interested but their report form requires a structure number.

 

[High Dyke]

I may be wrong, but i think many bridges are still the responsibility of Network Rail, though they may have made some arrangement with the respective local authority. I recall that for many years, during the 1980's the road over rail bridge on Cross O'cliff Hill in Lincoln was maintained by Network Rail, even though the railway underneath had closed some 20 / 25 years previous. Responsibility for that passed to the County Council a few years ago.

There should be a plate visible to the public. Contact Network Rail giving as much information about the structure as possible - i.e. type of bridge, location etc.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks for that.

This is an active line. There's no plate on or near the bridge, but it has had its parapet raised recently because the line beneath it has been electrified.
There's a station nearby, but no plate is visible on the bridge abutments from the platforms either.

Here's a pic I took in the early stages of electrification work - I can't see any plate there, but I looked again today just to check. Definitely nothing visible from the road/pavement or approaches.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

Can you describe the location of the bridge? Road name? Railway line? I'm sure someone on here will be able to dig out the structure number.

If you report to both NR and the Local Authority, I'm sure it'll get to the responsible persons.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks - it's the bridge carrying Muirend Road over the Whifflet line at Baillieston Station. It's had a 25 tonne limit and traffic lights to ensure single carriage way working for some years now.

 

[civ-eng-jim]

According to 5 mile diagram it's structure number 29, Engineer's Line Reference RCB, approximate chainage 3 miles 38chs

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Brilliant! Thanks, I can fill in the form now.
I'll report it for not having a plate as well.

 

[GearJammer]

Trying to find a structure number to fill in a report to Network Rail but it occurred to me that the bridge in question (which carries a minor road over the railway) might actually be the Local Authority's responsibility.

What it the general rule about this? There's no plate visible on the bridge from any publicly accessible place at any rate.

This is about a road bridge (signed as "weak bridge") which may be having its weight limit exceeded by construction traffic carrying bulk soil. If so, I imagine Network Rail would be interested but their report form requires a structure number.

What kind of trucks are going over the bridge? Are you sure they are heavier than the limit? Bulk soil implies tippers? Two axles is 18tonne gross, 3 axles is 24tonnes, and 4 is 32tonnes if that helps.

Also might be worth having a word with the site there coming from/to.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

What kind of trucks are going over the bridge?

BIG ones.

Are you sure they are heavier than the limit?

No

Bulk soil implies tippers?

They look like tippers

Two axles is 18tonne gross, 3 axles is 24tonnes, and 4 is 32tonnes if that helps.

Interesting, thanks. There have been 4 axle lorries seen on this bridge this week.

Also might be worth having a word with the site there coming from/to.

Thank you but certainly not - I've done my bit. It's up to Network Rail to check this now. I'm not taking on THAT haulier - I've seen the way they drive.

If NR are not interested and the bridge is damaged (or collapses on their shiny new OHLE) then they will look a bit silly. I hope and imagine that it's a needless concern, but my conscience is now clear.

 

[GearJammer]

I'm not taking on THAT haulier - I've seen the way they drive.

I never meant take on the haulier, I was assuming they were delivering/collecting from a building site/quarry, these places are normally pretty heavily restricted on what they can and can't do, speak to the site manager, they have ways and means.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I would still prefer to leave it to the pros and not get directly involved myself.
I have reached the age of discretion.

 

[duffield]

speak to the site manager, they have ways and means.

My (recent) experience of that sort of thing is if approached by 'some random nobody' they'll usually just fob you off - "nothing to do with me mate" and "I'm sure it's all been authorised" being typical (and that's the more polite responses).

 

[dysonsphere]

I would still prefer to leave it to the pros and not get directly involved myself.
I have reached the age of discretion.

dont blame you drivers of tippers can be a bit stroppy sometimes

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Brilliant! Thanks, I can fill in the form now.
I'll report it for not having a plate as well.

Do Network Rail really require structure numbers before they'll accept reports of untoward activity on their bridges etc? Sounds like a great way to put members of the public off from reporting stuff to them. Or have I missed something?

 

[Bushy]

A schedule of bridges managed by Network Rail was supplied in response to a FOI request:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bridges_managed_by_network_rail

You do need to know the ELR to use it and some bridge names are not obvious but you can usually work it out from adjacent bridges.

Regards

Bushy

 

[Bald Rick]

Regardless of who has responsibility for the bridge, call the NR helpline 08457 114111 to report these things. NR will then take it from there.

You don't need the bridge number or even the line (although it helps), but location and street name are important.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

A schedule of bridges managed by Network Rail was supplied in response to a FOI request:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/bridges_managed_by_network_rail

You do need to know the ELR to use it and some bridge names are not obvious but you can usually work it out from adjacent bridges.

Regards

Bushy

That's interesting, thanks for posting.

I have one update for the schedule already:

RCB 140/032 2(miles) 1617(yds) Bridge Overline Bridge ACCESS TO DOG TRACK NS6705663022 (OS ref)

has been demolished (or at least, had its deck removed) earlier this year.

EDIT:
And I just found this by doing a Google search on that map ref.

http://www.abcrailwayguide.co.uk looks like a useful resource - I'd never heard of it before.

 

[edwin_m]

Even if Network Rail don't own the bridge they have duties regarding safety of the railway and they ought to act if there is a significant risk of vehicles exceeding the weight limit damaging the structure.

If it's not their structure they would know who to contact, and if there was an imminent danger then they should take some urgent action themselves such as (at a guess) involving the police to get the movements stopped and the people responsible brought to book.

Of course it could be that the vehicle movements are perfectly safe and carried out with permission, for example they may not be fully loaded or the wheelbase of that particular vehicle may be too long to impose an unsafe load on the bridge. If so then this would be documented somewhere but a member of the public wouldn't necessarily know about it.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Just for the record, Network Rail replied within 2 hours:

Your enquiry has been passed to our local Community Relations team who are investigating the issue as quickly as possible.

They also gave me a copy of my completed email enquiry form and allocated an enquiry reference number.

All seems fine to me. I preferred to do it by email than trying to explain the situation on the phone.

UPDATE:
It may just be coincidence, but the lorries I have seen taking soil away from that building site today (27/10/14) are smaller and from a different contractor.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The bridge has been closed recently for a few days; I was over it this afternoon and noticed it has now been fitted with identification plates.
(Foto to phollow).

...In the event of any road vehicles striking this bridge please phone THE RAILWAY AUTHORITY on 0141 335 3399...

THE RAILWAY AUTHORITY? Should we take from this that the bridge may last longer than Network Rail?