Commuters on the West Coast Main Line faced widespread delays and cancellations after a railway bridge in Warwickshire partially collapsed when it was hit by a lorry. Services have resumed, but disruption is expected to continue as repair work progresses.
The collapse of the bridge leads to the cessation of railway traffic
A major railway bridge in Warwickshire suffered major structural damage after being hit by a lorry on Thursday, causing severe disruption on one of the UK’s busiest railway corridors.The accident occurred on Marston Lane in Whitestone, near Nuneaton, closing the road and railway line between Nuneaton and Rugby. The bridge partially collapsed after the impact, prompting an emergency response from several agencies.
Train services resume, but delays continue
The affected lines have reopened, allowing train services to resume, the National Railways said on Friday. However, trains are running at reduced speeds across the region, with passengers warned of potential cancellations, revised schedules and delays of up to 10 minutes.The disturbance is expected to continue until at least noon as engineers monitor the damaged structure and conduct safety checks, officials said.
The driver was arrested after leaving the scene
Warwickshire Police confirmed that a 64-year-old man from Coventry was arrested on Thursday evening in connection with the incident.According to police, the truck driver left the scene without reporting the collision after colliding with the bridge.A police spokesman said: “After an alleged collision between the truck driver and the bridge, the driver left the scene without reporting the collision.”The man was arrested about 5.10pm on suspicion of endangering railway passengers and failing to stop after a collision.
A large-scale emergency response was launched
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received reports of the incident at around 3.30pm on Thursday.Four fire engines, including a specialist traffic collision unit, were dispatched from Nuneaton, Bedworth and Coleshill. Firefighters worked alongside Network Rail and Warwickshire Police to secure the area before the scene was handed over to rail authorities.The railway network described the bridge as suffering serious damage, but confirmed that there were no casualties.
Passengers face the chaos of traveling across the network
The bridge collapse caused widespread travel disruption, with all train services between Nuneaton and Rugby suspended on Thursday. The damaging impact has been felt across many long-distance routes using the West Coast Main Line, leaving thousands of passengers facing delays and cancellations.While services resumed on Friday, rail operators warned that journeys across the affected section would remain slower than usual until repairs and safety assessments were completed.