Another bridge strike

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crb11
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by crb11 »

B1040 wrote: Tue Aug 17, 2021 09:30 According to the Cambridge News, Stagecoach have been testing software to alert bus drivers of the danger of bridge strikes.
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/c ... _like_this
I can see the importance of such software, but slightly mystified by the choice of Cambridge, where (as far as I know) apart from the bus way bridges at Trumpington and Hills Road, there aren't any bridges that trick bus drivers.
If I was testing this, I'd get a single decker in an area with several low bridges, programme the computer to think it's a double decker, and then drive around testing it under the low bridges.
There's one other problem bridge - the one on Coldham's Lane which is 13'9", so too low for a double decker. That and the nearby one on Barnwell Road are the only two others in the city where a road goes under a bridge. But it doesn't detract from your point that it's an odd location to choose.
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wrinkly
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by wrinkly »

Network Rail press release

Most bashed bridge in Scotland to be upgraded

Bellside Bridge, Cleland, over the A73.

The plan does not seem to include increasing its span, though it is close to a dualled stretch of the A73.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.u ... ry-strikes
Phil
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Phil »

wrinkly wrote: Thu Aug 26, 2021 14:48 Network Rail press release

Most bashed bridge in Scotland to be upgraded

Bellside Bridge, Cleland, over the A73.

The plan does not seem to include increasing its span, though it is close to a dualled stretch of the A73.

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.u ... ry-strikes
This is entirely logical.

Network Rail are in charge of the RAIL network - if the highway authorities desire to increase road capacity (i.e. road widening / dualling then they need to pay for it!
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wrinkly
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by wrinkly »

Phil wrote: Fri Aug 27, 2021 21:51 Network Rail are in charge of the RAIL network - if the highway authorities desire to increase road capacity (i.e. road widening / dualling then they need to pay for it!
Of course I wouldn't suggest NR should pay for widening the road. Presumably the project was coordinated with the local authority who decided they didn't want to take the opportunity to make the bridge compatible with future road widening, or couldn't afford to. It's still worthwhile to make the observation that the opportunity isn't being taken - it's an indication that the road (a former trunk road with several other dualled sections) is most unlikely to be widened (at this location) in the lifetime of anybody reading this discussion.

It could be, for all I know, that the local authority is already contributing to the cost on the grounds that the project benefits the road network as well as the rail network.
Al__S
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Al__S »

Simply replacing the bridge deck is a relatively simple job. Fully rebuilding the abutments is an extensive and complex job requiring a much long closure of the railway and road
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wrinkly
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by wrinkly »

Discussion and pictures of a bridge strike at Plymouth on the Rail UK forums.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/br ... st-5290825
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rhyds
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by rhyds »

Looks like one of the trucks working on the A487 Bont ar Ddyfi replacement job has had a bit of an "Oh Dear. Oh Dear Oh Dear..." moment

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58406885

And the driver made sure to do a really good job of it
bont ar ddyfi2.jpg
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A303Chris
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by A303Chris »

Think this Tesco lorry driver is in a bit of trouble after stopping all train services to Cornwall and Plymouth for the last three days
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DavidB
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by DavidB »

This railway blog lists NINE bridge strikes which took place yesterday across the country:
https://chimewhistle.co.uk/page/blog
Yesterday saw nine bridge bashes involving road vehicles striking rail bridges, causing a total of 923 delay minutes. The list below details the delays and bridge dispensation codes.

Red: Stop trains.

Amber: First train examines track at 5 mph. If track alignment not affected and there's no debris trains are permitted to pass at 20 mph until bridge examined.

Double amber: As for amber, but subsequent trains at normal speed.

Green: Continue to operate at normal speed.

Special rules exist for bashes involving light vehicles.


Romsey 700 delay minutes. Red dispensation.

Luton 163 delay minutes. Double amber dispensation.

Marston East 45 delay minutes. Double amber dispensation.

Earley 12 delay minutes. Late reported bridge strike.

Ulverston 3 delay minutes. Amber dispensation.

Redhill 0 delay minutes. Green dispensation.

Coton 0 delay minutes. Amber dispensation.

Darlington 0 delay minutes. Bridge strike by light vehicle.

Cadwell 0 delay minutes. Double amber dispensation.
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Chris Bertram
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Chris Bertram »

The Bromford Road bridge, which is usually in the top 10 list, is in fact next to Sandwell and Dudley station in Oldbury rather than in Dudley itself (it's not even in the borough of Dudley). You might have thought that the (Wolverhampton-based) Express and Star would get that bit right.
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Re: Another bridge strike

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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Bryn666 »

B1040 wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 22:46 https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/ ... f-9237521/

Ely again.
Given that's been bypassed now why don't they just close the road and get rid of the problem for good...
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by doebag »

Bryn666 wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:47
B1040 wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 22:46 https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/ ... f-9237521/

Ely again.
Given that's been bypassed now why don't they just close the road and get rid of the problem for good...
Probably a good idea. Leave it open to peds and cyclists.
Al__S
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Al__S »

Bryn666 wrote: Sat Jan 29, 2022 11:47
B1040 wrote: Fri Jan 28, 2022 22:46 https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/ ... f-9237521/

Ely again.
Given that's been bypassed now why don't they just close the road and get rid of the problem for good...
i have been saying this since the bypass was in development, The extra distance for the vehilces still using it is minor even if going to the station or Standen Engineering from the east
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rhyds
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by rhyds »

I spotted a pretty serious issue while driving up the A5104 yesterday, that of the magic Pen-y-Ffordd variable height restriction...

At Pen-y-Ffordd railway station there's a bridge. Its a pretty low bridge, according to the massive signs on it its got a passable height of 12 feet, 9 inches, or 3.8m in metric

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1418544 ... 384!8i8192

However, the headroom of the bridge changes, depending where you are in the space-time continuum.

A mile and a half to the South West, its still 12' 9"/3.8m

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1369096 ... 2!1b1!2i38

However 300yds away, its suddenly 13" 0', or 3.9m

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1408866 ... 384!8i8192

Same at 200yds

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1409047 ... 384!8i8192

And finally at 100yds

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1412341 ... 384!8i8192

The bridge signs themselves however say 12' 9"/3.8m

And, on the other side of the bridge, at the A550 roundabout its suddenly 13' 0" / 3.9m again!

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.1430451 ... 384!8i8192

It was the same setup yesterday (02/05/22), and these streetview images are from Novmeber.

Now, what's 3"/75mm between friends? However I'm guessing a lorry insurance firm will have no trouble claiming a poorly signed height restriction, especially from the A550 side, and refusing to pay out on a marginal case despite causing damage to the vitally important* Wrexham-Bidston line


*Important may be stretching it
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Bryn666 »

Signing responsibility is entirely the concern of the local highway authority so such things are unacceptable.

I've written about this here: https://showmeasign.online/2019/12/20/h ... -approach/

I did notice the low bridge on the A666 at Ewood has been bashed, taking out the large 1200mm internally lit roundels (my article was written before these were installed). You can't help some drivers, it seems.
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rhyds
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by rhyds »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 10:33 Signing responsibility is entirely the concern of the local highway authority so such things are unacceptable.
I've twitterated at Flintshire CC (non primary A-road, guess its their job). If it was the other way around (approaches signed at 12' 9", bridge actually 13') I'd have left it as there's no real risk there (if you're a 12' 9" truck you suddenly have an extra 3", if your a 13' truck then you do a few more miles needlessly)

Otherwise signage is actually pretty good, except that the figures are wrong and there's nowhere to turn around once you get to the bridge (especially from the A550 side).
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Bryn666
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by Bryn666 »

rhyds wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 10:44
Bryn666 wrote: Tue May 03, 2022 10:33 Signing responsibility is entirely the concern of the local highway authority so such things are unacceptable.
I've twitterated at Flintshire CC (non primary A-road, guess its their job). If it was the other way around (approaches signed at 12' 9", bridge actually 13') I'd have left it as there's no real risk there (if you're a 12' 9" truck you suddenly have an extra 3", if your a 13' truck then you do a few more miles needlessly)

Otherwise signage is actually pretty good, except that the figures are wrong and there's nowhere to turn around once you get to the bridge (especially from the A550 side).
There is also the weird rule that you have to round down no matter what so signs could potentially be 6 inches lower than reality. Once HGVs suss this out... that's when trouble starts.
Bryn
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rhyds
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Re: Another bridge strike

Post by rhyds »

Just done a quick streetview back-check and it sort-of explains things

In 2009, its signed as 13'

In 2016, its got a single panel, dual unit sign showing 13' / 4.1m (which makes zero sense as 13' is 3.96m)

And now its dual panel, 12' 9" and 3.8m

In short, it looks like the experts at Flintshire have been sniffing bitumen again
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