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Tractor hits 'most bashed railway bridge'

Helen BurchellCambridgeshire
News imageBBC A green John Deere tractor has a badly damaged roof and wing mirrors. It is on a road under a bridge and there is debris and shattered glass on the road and pavement.BBC
The tractor was badly damaged after getting stuck under the bridge

A tractor roof was partially ripped off after it became wedged under a railway bridge once dubbed the "most bashed" in Britain.

Network Rail awarded the dubious accolade to the structure in Bridge Road in Ely, Cambridgeshire, after 18 incidents were recorded in 2023-24.

The notorious bridge was hit again at about 17:45 BST on Monday, resulting in damage to the John Deere tractor's roof and shattered glass on the road.

There were no injuries, and train operator Greater Anglia confirmed there was no disruption to trains.

News imageA green tractor in the distance has a badly damaged roof and wing mirrors. It is on a road under a bridge and there is debris and shattered glass on the road and pavement. There is sign a on the bridge that reads "warning very low bridge".
There are height restriction warning signs on both approaches to the bridge

By 2024-25, the bridge at Ely had dropped to third place in Network Rail's annual list of most-struck railway bridges, with 15 recorded incidents.

The list was topped by a bridge in Hinckley in Leicestershire, with 22 strikes and one in Grantham, Lincolnshire, with 18.

News imageAngela Wenn/Spotted in Ely A wrecked van is wedged under a railway bridge. The roof and the sides appear to be badly damaged and some contents can be seen inside the van. The bridge has a very large sign saying: "Warning very low bridge" with yellow and black stripes on either side of the words. A train can be seen passing over the bridge.Angela Wenn/Spotted in Ely
Many vehicles have become stuck under the bridge over the years

There is an option to use a level crossing next to the bridge.

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