City railway bridge struck again as lorry toppled and trains halted
It was at least the fifth time the 14ft high bridge, which carries the Cross City Line over Summer Road in Erdington, has been hit this year
13:38, 30 Apr 2025
Toppled lorry at the 4.3-metre low bridge on Summer Road, Erdington, on April 30, 2025(Image: Birmingham New Street)
A Birmingham railway bridge has been struck again causing a lorry to topple and trains halted today, Wednesday, April 30.
It was at least the fifth time the 14ft high bridge, which carries the Cross City Line over Summer Road in Erdington[1], has been hit this year.
Train services between Lichfield[2] Trent Valley and Aston were suspended as a result.
READ MORE: Birmingham bin workers pay cut 'unjustified and clear escalation of dispute', says Unite[3]
Engineers were inspecting the damage to the bridge to ensure it was safe to reopen.
Taking to X, Birmingham[4] New Street posted today: "Cross City line services between Lichfield[5] Trent Valley and Aston are currently suspended as a lorry has hit a bridge in Erdington[6].
Article continues below"We're on site examining the bridge to check it's safe before we can reopen it."
The latest bridge strike follows another road vehicle collision on January 27.
A lorry had its trailer roof ripped off by the Erdington bridge on January 7(Image: Network Rail)
The same bridge was also hit twice on January 7. The first lorry did not stop, with the bridge later reopening after a check by safety inspectors.
It was then bashed for a second time that day as a lorry trailer had its roof ripped off hours later.
The same bridge was also hit and overturned a lorry on January 3. In a sixth incident, an HGV struck the same bridge on November 8, last year.
The driver was charged with drink-driving[7].
Last year lorry drivers were told "wise up, size up"[8] with truckers urged to know the height of their vehicle.
Martin Colmey, operations director for Network Rail's Central route, said: "There is no excuse for driving a lorry into a railway bridge.
"Our bridges are clearly marked, and lorry drivers should always know the height restrictions of their vehicles.
Article continues below"To ignore both and bash a bridge, causing disruption to passengers and road users, is unforgivable."
References
- ^ Erdington (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Lichfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham bin workers pay cut 'unjustified and clear escalation of dispute', says Unite (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Lichfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Erdington (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ charged with drink-driving (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ "wise up, size up" (www.birminghammail.co.uk)