Britain’s most-bashed railway bridge struck by lorry twice in two days

A railway bridge described as the most bashed in Britain has been struck by a lorry for the second time in just two days, causing disruption on the A5 near Hinckley in Leicestershire.

The latest incident happened at around 13:48 BST on Monday, when a lorry hit the railway bridge on Watling Street.

Leicestershire Police closed the A5 following the collision and advised motorists to find alternative routes while the incident was dealt with.

The same bridge had already been hit by another lorry the previous day.

At around 05:52 BST on Sunday, the A5 Watling Street was closed after a lorry crashed into the bridge.

Network Rail said the bridge was inspected within 30 minutes of Monday's collision and no structural damage was found.

As a result, trains were able to continue operating safely, although the incident caused a total of 16 minutes of delays to rail services.

A Network Rail spokesperson said bridge strikes remain one of the biggest causes of disruption to Britain's railway network.

The bridge has become notorious for being repeatedly hit by high vehicles.

Network Rail named it the most bashed railway bridge in Britain after it was struck 22 times between April 2024 and March 2025.

Despite the repeated incidents, plans to reduce the number of collisions by lowering the road beneath the bridge have faced delays.

A proposed scheme to lower the road was delayed again last month, meaning the bridge remains vulnerable to further strikes.

Network Rail is urging lorry and other high-vehicle drivers to check the height of their vehicles before travelling and plan routes carefully.

The organisation is promoting its "Wise Up, Size Up" safety campaign, reminding drivers to know the height and dimensions of their vehicles and to follow warning signs and systems around low bridges.

The latest incidents have once again highlighted the problems caused when drivers fail to account for vehicle height before approaching low railway bridges.

Although the latest strike did not damage the bridge, repeated collisions can cause significant disruption to both road and rail users and can result in expensive repairs.

Network Rail said drivers should always obey road signs and warning systems when approaching low bridges.