Railway bridge struck 12 times this year

Network Rail has urged drivers to “Wise Up, Size Up” after a railway bridge at Pontdolgoch, near Caersws, was struck a dozen times this year, causing repeated delays and costly repairs.

The bridge, which carries the A470 over the Cambrian railway line, has been hit 12 times since January, leading to more than 1,100 minutes of train delays and over £46,000 in repair and disruption costs.

Every incident has forced the temporary closure of the A470 at Pontdolgoch, causing tailbacks through Caersws and delays for rail passengers as engineers carry out essential safety inspections.

Despite several warning signs on approaches to the bridge, over-height vehicles continue to collide with it, creating what Network Rail says are entirely avoidable dangers and costs.

Network Rail has confirmed that additional signage is planned for installation in the coming months as part of wider investment across Wales to reduce bridge strikes.

The warning comes during Road Safety Week, with the “Wise Up, Size Up” campaign being promoted at motorway services and petrol stations across the country, reminding drivers to know their vehicle height before setting off.

Rebecca Watling, Head of Performance at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “When a vehicle hits a bridge, it creates a serious safety risk and causes major disruption to the railway. Trains have to be stopped for inspections and repairs, which means people miss appointments and connections.

“These incidents also cost the public purse – money that would be far better spent on upgrading and maintaining the rail network. I’d like to remind all drivers to check the height and width of their vehicles and follow the safety signage. These incidents are entirely avoidable.”

Deb Justice, Community Rail Development Officer for the Cambrian Railway Partnership, added: “This affects not only local journeys on our trains but rail travel across Wales and Borders. We’re asking drivers to take a moment to check their vehicle height before setting out. It’s a small action that makes a huge difference to safety and reliability for passengers and road users.”