Network Rail is renewing its call for drivers to “Wise Up, Size Up” after repeated collisions with the Abergavenny Road bridge in Caersws caused major disruption and costly repairs. Since January 2024, the bridge has been struck 12 times by over-height vehicles, resulting in more than 1,100 minutes of train delays and over £46,000 in taxpayer-funded costs.

Each incident has forced temporary closures of the A470, delaying both road and rail users. Despite multiple warning signs warning drivers of the bridge’s clearance over the Cambrian railway line, collisions continue to occur, creating serious safety risks and inconvenience.

Network Rail Wales plans to install additional signage in the coming months as part of a wider programme to reduce bridge strikes across Wales. The reminder comes during Road Safety Week, with the national “Wise Up, Size Up” campaign urging drivers to know the height and width of their vehicles before starting journeys. Posters and petrol pump-top messages are also being displayed at motorway service stations nationwide.

Rebecca Watling, Head of Performance at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said:

“When a vehicle hits a bridge, it creates a serious safety risk and causes major disruption to the railway, with trains stopped for essential inspections and repairs – meaning people miss important appointments or connections. These incidents also carry a significant cost to the public purse – money that could be far better spent on upgrading and maintaining our rail network. I’d like to remind all drivers to check the height and width of their vehicles and follow the safety signage on the approach to railway bridges as incidents like this are entirely avoidable.”

Deb Justice, Cambrian Railway Partnership Community Rail Development Officer, added:

“This affects not only local journeys on our trains but rail travel across the whole of Wales and Borders. We’re asking drivers to take a moment to check the height and width of their vehicles before setting out. It’s a small action, but one that can make a huge difference to the safety and reliability of travel for both rail passengers and road users.”

Image: Network Rail