

Bridge strikes impact the whole transport network and by working together we can provide the right training and education for logistics companies to help them support their drivers, ensure that those who do break the rules are penalised, and that we can lower the impact of strikes to the travelling public when they do happen.
#SIZEUP TOOL DRIVERS#
However, we know there are also some areas where we could be better across the industry to stop strikes happening and give drivers and logistics companies the tools they need to help tackle the problem more effectively. We know that most drivers are complete professionals and take safety on the road very seriously. A number of bridge strikes are ‘hit and run’, so while we can claim back some costs, we still have to find the rest. Until these legal successes, we’ve been paying for repairs and compensating train operating companies for delays to their services where we haven’t been able to claim – costing the taxpayer. Recent landmark legal cases mean Network Rail can now claim back from hauliers the huge costs incurred by bridge strikes – and we’re aiming to claim back 100 per cent. Network Rail also has a network of bridge strike ‘champions’ covering each route across Britain, who raise awareness of the issue by visiting logistics companies and lead on managing the risk of bridge strikes locally. That’s why we remind drivers to check their vehicle and plan their route to avoid low bridges before setting off, and we have tools, training and guidance in several languages for drivers and logistics companies to help tackle bridge strikes.

Our research has shown 43 per cent of lorry drivers admit to not measuring their vehicle before heading out on the road, and 52 per cent admit to not taking low bridges into account. To combat bridge strikes, we’ve been running the national ‘Wise Up, Size Up’ campaign since 2018, predominantly targeting the peak times for strikes in March and October. View good practice guides on how drivers, transport staff and bridge owners can prevent vehicles from hitting bridges and what to do if a bridge strike happens.Ĭlick the arrows on the image below to scroll through our gallery and discover more striking facts. Most of the vehicles that hit railway bridges are Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and buses, at a cost of around £13,000 per strike –costing the UK taxpayer around £23m in a year. Level Crossings – Distractions when walking a dogĭon’t try it for size – know your height before you go.īridge strikes are a costly problem for the railway and can cause delays to train services and on the road network while we repair any damage.īetween Apand Mathere were 1,624 bridge strikes reported across the network.Level Crossings – Distractions when driving a car.Guidelines for taking photos at stations.

National Stations Improvement Programme.Access for All – improving accessibility at railway stations nationwide.
