A railway bridge in Leicestershire, England, known as the UK's 'most bashed bridge,' was struck by two separate lorries on consecutive days. The incidents caused road closures and delays to rail services.
The first collision occurred at 5:52 a.m. on Sunday over the A5 Watling Street near Hinckley, leading to immediate road closures. Leicestershire Police reported a second 'road traffic collision' with the same bridge on Monday afternoon, necessitating another closure.
These repeated strikes have caused disruption for drivers seeking alternative routes and resulted in 16-minute delays for rail passengers. Network Rail confirmed the bridge sustained no damage on either occasion but emphasized that "bridge strikes remain one of the biggest causes of disruption on the railway."
Last year, Network Rail identified this specific bridge as the most frequently struck in Britain, having been hit 22 times between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025. Each incident incurs an estimated cost of £13,000, contributing to an estimated annual national cost of £23 million for bridge strikes.
Drivers frequently misjudge the bridge's height, which stands at 4.6 meters (15 feet). Some lorries exceed this limit, with heights up to 4.95 meters (16.2 feet), leading to collisions. Social media discussions among truck drivers have highlighted the persistent issue, with some blaming navigation systems and others questioning drivers' diligence in checking vehicle dimensions.
Network Rail issued a statement urging drivers to "Wise Up, Size Up" by knowing their vehicle's height, planning routes carefully, and adhering to warning signs for low bridges. Nationally, bridge strikes increased by 9% last year, with 1,666 incidents reported to Network Rail.
Plans to mitigate future strikes, including lowering the road under the bridge by 51 cm (1.67 feet), have faced delays. A developer, Mountpark, had agreed to fund the road lowering as part of planning permission for a nearby logistics park in June 2023. However, Network Rail stated in July that it had not yet approved the proposal, more than three years after initial discussions.