'Most bashed' rail bridge hit three times in a week

28 October 2025

Helen BurchellCambridgeshire

News image — The roof and sides of a van were ripped off when it got stuck under the bridge last week

Angela 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. — The roof and sides of a van were ripped off when it got stuck under the bridge last week

A railway bridge dubbed the "most bashed" in Britain has been hit again — three times so far this month.

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

It has been struck again with three vehicles hitting the low bridge last week.

Network Rail said: "Our maintenance teams carried out thorough inspections after each incident and confirmed there was no structural damage to the bridge."

The company confirmed three separate incidents of vehicles bashing the bridge on 20, 22 and 24 October.

Local residents took to Facebook group Spotted in Ely to comment on the latest spate of strikes.

One called it the "Britney bridge — Hit me baby one more time" after the singer Britney Spears's hit single.

And several added, sarcastically: "If only there was a warning sign".

In previous years, lorries and large vans, including one carrying trays of tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables, have all got wedged beneath the bridge.