Swansea Rail Bridge Dubbed "Most Bashed" in Wales Hit Again

A railway bridge in Gowerton, Swansea, thought to be the most bashed in Wales, has been struck again, bringing the total to almost 50 hits.

CCTV footage shows a utilities lorry carrying wooden poles with a crane arm hitting the underside of Trafle Mill bridge on 25 October. The bridge is 11ft (3.3m) high. The lorry appears to slow as it approaches, but the crane arm smacks into the bridge with a loud bang.

Residents say the driver reversed onto nearby Fairwood Terrace and then drove back along Victoria Road in the opposite direction.

Network Rail said in 2020 that the bridge had been hit 33 times in the previous decade, more than any other in Wales and the border areas. There have been 12 reported strikes since 2023.

Sensors and signs

Sensors have been installed to warn drivers of the height limit. Victoria Road resident Mark Needs says they sit on poles some way back on either side of the bridge and trigger flashing signs when a tall vehicle passes. He said the sign on the Fairwood Terrace side did not appear to flash when the lorry approached. Swansea council said the system was working normally. It called the latest hit disappointing and urged delivery companies to remind drivers of the restrictions.

Mr Needs has filmed many lorries and other vehicles in difficulty at the bridge. "The worst one was when a van with a cherry picker got stuck under it, it took four to five hours to get it out," he said. He also recalled a lorry carrying potatoes that got stuck. "Everybody had free potatoes that day," he said.

Network Rail said staff carried out precautionary safety inspections after the latest incident and found no damage. Collision protection beams have been in place since 2014, and the bridge has low-headroom warning signs and illuminated LED signs on the approaches. The company said it continues to work with Swansea council to improve highway signage.

Gowerton councillor Susan Jones said: "Obviously that bridge is a problem. When they extended the railway station it was strengthened - if they hadn't, I dread to think."

Source: BBC News