Caersws railway bridge crashes cost taxpayers £50k

A bridge that has been hit 12 times by drivers over nearly two years in “avoidable” incidents has cost taxpayers £50,000 in repairs, Network Rail has said.

The Abergavenny Road railway bridge, in Caersws, Powys, has been struck a dozen times since January 2024 – seven times in 2025 alone.

Network Rail said over-height vehicles crashed into the bridge over the Cambrian railway line despite numerous warning signs, causing more than 1,110 minutes of train delays and the A470 to temporarily close.

The rail operator said it planned to install new signs in the coming months and urged drivers to know the height and width of their vehicles before starting their journey.

Rebecca Watling, head of performance at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said “incidents like this are entirely avoidable”.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

She urged drivers to “check the height and width of their vehicles”.

Deb Justice, Cambrian Railway Partnership’s community rail development officer, said: “This affects not only local journeys on our trains but rail travel across the whole of Wales and Borders.”

She also urged drivers to “take a moment” to check the size 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.”