A BERKSWELL rail bridge has been named among the most “bashed” in the country by Network Rail.
The railway bridge over Station Road – at Berkswell Station – was crashed into 14 times between April 1 2024 and March 31 2025.
The collisions make it the sixth most-struck structure across the country during that period of time.
Watling Street in Hinckley topped the list with 22 strikes.
This was followed by Harlaxton Road in Grantham with 18 strikes.
The list was revealed as part of a campaign by Network Rail calling on haulage operators and their drivers to ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ by checking vehicle heights and planning suitable routes to avoid low bridges.
Network Rail say there were 1,666 reported bridge strikes – one every five hours – which cost Britain’s rail industry around £12million in delays and cancellations.
Martin Frobisher, group safety and engineering director at Network Rail, said: “Every bridge strike endangers lives, disrupts rail services, and delays tens of thousands of passengers while we inspect and repair the damage to the bridges. Each incident also costs millions of pounds that could instead be spent improving the network.
“With the busiest delivery period of the year underway, we’re reminding all drivers and operators to Wise up, Size Up – ensure they know their vehicle heights before they set off, plan their routes carefully, and watch for low bridge signs. A few moments of vigilance can prevent serious delays and keep everyone moving safely this festive season.”
Hideo Takano, senior structures advisor at National Highways, said: “Bridge strikes can cause hours of disruption and pose serious safety risks. We understand how frustrating these delays are for road users, which is why we work alongside other transport authorities through the Bridge Strike Prevention Group to reduce the number of incidents.
“Two-thirds of strikes on our bridges involve vehicles carrying loads on open trailers. To help prevent them, we urge drivers to take three simple steps: know your vehicle height, plan your route, and make sure your load is secure.”
