Drone footage shows 60-tonne bridge replacement which forced Kenilworth Railway Station to close

By SWNS

1st May 2022 | Local News

The bridge was delivered on Friday, April 16 on the back of a huge self-propelled modular transporter
The bridge was delivered on Friday, April 16 on the back of a huge self-propelled modular transporter

Drone footage shows a gigantic 60 tonne railway track being carefully delivered as part of a £2.4 million project to replace a 118-year-old bridge.

Kenilworth Railway Station had to be closed over the Easter weekend as the Rugby Road bridge - on the Nuneaton to Leamington Spa line - was replaced.

The abnormal load was seen being driven through the narrow streets of Leamington on Friday, April 16 on the back of a huge self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT).

The operation caused traffic chaos as the 60 tonne replacement bridge was slowly manoeuvred into place at the site along Rugby Road.

Network Rail worked over the four-day bank holiday to carry out the complex £2.4m replacement project and train services resumed on Tuesday 19.

The works included the removal of the old bridge, which weighed 372 tonnes, the installation and laying of the new bridge and 800 tonnes of railway foundation stone.

Network Rail said the bridge, built in 1844, needed to be replaced because its condition limited trains passing over it to 20mph.

They released the fascinating drone and time-lapse footage following the four-day railway closure.

It show a swarms of engineers working to take out the railway lines, remove the old bridge, drive the new one into place and then reinstate new tracks.

Hundreds of onlookers also turned out across the weekend to watch the unique sight of both bridges being driven through the streets.

Network Rail worked over the four-day weekend to put the bridge in place (Image via SWNS)

Paul Randall, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: "I'm hugely proud of the team who gave up their Easter bank holiday to carry out this major work to improve railway journeys through Leamington Spa.

"Driving bridges down residential streets is no mean feat and our meticulous planning over many months meant that everything went well in time for trains to run again this morning.

"I'd like to thank local people for their patience and understanding while we worked day and night to replace Rugby Road railway bridge and for the work we've still got to do to finish the job."

The work was designed to improve journeys from Nuneaton to Leamington Spa in time for this summer's Commonwealth Games.

The scheme cost £2.4million to complete (Image via SWNS)

Trains had been limited to 20mph over the old bridge (Image via SWNS)

     

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