How much does it cost to raise a railway bridge?

[eccles]

MrBig said:

Britain's "most hit" bridge continues it's run of strong form this morning. Usual resultant traffic carnage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershi...

The joint number 10 bridge at Needham Market has recently had work done to it to protect it from strikes.
They've bolted huge steel beams in front of the bridge so they get hit first..... but in doing so have lowered the clearance by about 8 inches leading to more strikes from vehicles that could previously fit under it! It also means that the local fire engine can't now fit under it and has to go miles around!

[14]

sherman said:

An almost 15ft bus trying to fit through a less than 14ft bridge. Is it the normal route for the bus or is it usually served by a single decker bus?

That’s local to me it isn’t a bus route, as just beyond the bridge there’s a sharp right hand bend that a bus wouldn’t be able to go round it without using the other side of the road. Also there’s 3 ways which to get from Haywards Health- which is where the bus would of come from- and Burgess Hill.

[sherman]

14 said:

sherman said:

An almost 15ft bus trying to fit through a less than 14ft bridge. Is it the normal route for the bus or is it usually served by a single decker bus?

That’s local to me it isn’t a bus route, as just beyond the bridge there’s a sharp right hand bend that a bus wouldn’t be able to go round it without using the other side of the road. Also there’s 3 ways which to get from Haywards Health- which is where the bus would of come from- and Burgess Hill.

So driver error. Oh dear.

[saaby93]

eccles said:

MrBig said:

Britain's "most hit" bridge continues it's run of strong form this morning. Usual resultant traffic carnage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershi...

The joint number 10 bridge at Needham Market has recently had work done to it to protect it from strikes.
They've bolted huge steel beams in front of the bridge so they get hit first..... but in doing so have lowered the clearance by about 8 inches leading to more strikes from vehicles that could previously fit under it! It also means that the local fire engine can't now fit under it and has to go miles around!

Lower steel beams also more risky for bus passengers?

[Simes205]

Although not in UK .....

https://youtu.be/USu8vT_tfdw

[saaby93]

Simes205 said:

Although not in UK .....

https://youtu.be/USu8vT_tfdw

8:50

[eccles]

saaby93 said:

eccles said:

MrBig said:

Britain's "most hit" bridge continues it's run of strong form this morning. Usual resultant traffic carnage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershi...

The joint number 10 bridge at Needham Market has recently had work done to it to protect it from strikes.
They've bolted huge steel beams in front of the bridge so they get hit first..... but in doing so have lowered the clearance by about 8 inches leading to more strikes from vehicles that could previously fit under it! It also means that the local fire engine can't now fit under it and has to go miles around!

Lower steel beams also more risky for bus passengers?

It's way to low for buses, even before the recent work.

[MrBig]

Simes205 said:

Although not in UK .....

https://youtu.be/USu8vT_tfdw

Oddly satisfying to watch though, especially the ones where the roof just gets peeled off like a sardine can!!

[P5BNij]

MrBig said:

Britain's "most hit" bridge continues it's run of strong form this morning. Usual resultant traffic carnage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershi...

The A5 bridge now has a speed restriction for certain trains running over it due to the regular damage that's caused to it. Last week I had to reduce my (normally) 60mph freight to 30mph whilst passing over it due the weight of the wagons.

[ZymoTech]

sherman said:

14 said:

sherman said:

An almost 15ft bus trying to fit through a less than 14ft bridge. Is it the normal route for the bus or is it usually served by a single decker bus?

That’s local to me it isn’t a bus route, as just beyond the bridge there’s a sharp right hand bend that a bus wouldn’t be able to go round it without using the other side of the road. Also there’s 3 ways which to get from Haywards Health- which is where the bus would of come from- and Burgess Hill.

So driver error. Oh dear.

Possibly a relief driver not completely familiar with the route i.e. went off-piste or more familiar with driving single deckers.

Indeed I've spent many spare moments watching the 11foot8.com website content via Youtube. It seems that the majority of the "can opener's" victims are rental trucks. Like the bus driver above not entirely familiar with the height of their vehicle.

[Lily the Pink]

sherman said:

So driver error. Oh dear.

Is it ever not "driver error" ?

[14]

ZymoTech said:

Possibly a relief driver not completely familiar with the route i.e. went off-piste or more familiar with driving single deckers.

Indeed I've spent many spare moments watching the 11foot8.com website content via Youtube. It seems that the majority of the "can opener's" victims are rental trucks. Like the bus driver above not entirely familiar with the height of their vehicle.

It’s not a bus route, so I think the driver doesn’t know the area well and forgot he was driving a double decker bus. That road isn’t suitable for buses as beyond the bridge it’s quite a bendy road. I don’t know how to link to google earth otherwise I’d link that road, so instead search for Rocky Lane Haywards Heath.

[mikebradford]

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

[thebraketester]

mikebradford said:

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

Alternatively, just read the sign that tells you how high the bridge is?

[Nickyboy]

sherman said:

So driver error. Oh dear.

What other type of error would it be?

The driver has to know the height of the bus regardless of whether they are on a route they know or not.

[saaby93]

thebraketester said:

mikebradford said:

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

Alternatively, just read the sign that tells you how high the bridge is?

As recent pictures show, theres a bit more to the process than reading the sign

Going back to the thread topic and the sums involved for dealing with bridge strikes, surely there are cases where a replacement bridge or road lowering would be cost effective?

[sherman]

mikebradford said:

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

Something that only works from 6ft or less away when a 10+ton object is travelling at 20-30mph. Is going to be as useful as a chocolate teapot.

[aeropilot]

Lily the Pink said:

sherman said:

So driver error. Oh dear.

Is it ever not "driver error" ?

Unless the bridge is somehow some sort of new 'active' bridge design that can automatically raise and lower itself to deliberately catch out some drivers.......

[aeropilot]

saaby93 said:

thebraketester said:

mikebradford said:

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

Alternatively, just read the sign that tells you how high the bridge is?

As recent pictures show, theres a bit more to the process than reading the sign

Going back to the thread topic and the sums involved for dealing with bridge strikes, surely there are cases where a replacement bridge or road lowering would be cost effective?

Not really given the enormous cost of either options!

[saaby93]

aeropilot said:

saaby93 said:

thebraketester said:

mikebradford said:

I'd have though buses could have a parking type sensor mounted at high level. This could give an audible warning. Surely relatively cost effective.

Alternatively, just read the sign that tells you how high the bridge is?

As recent pictures show, theres a bit more to the process than reading the sign

Going back to the thread topic and the sums involved for dealing with bridge strikes, surely there are cases where a replacement bridge or road lowering would be cost effective?

Not really given the enormous cost of either options!

How much is enormous?

saaby93 said:

MrBig said:

Britain's "most hit" bridge continues it's run of strong form this morning. Usual resultant traffic carnage.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershi...

'five railway bridge crashes per day nationally, with repairs costing an average of £13,000 per strike.'
£65,000 per day £24m per year
What could you do with £24m?