scope:

This Work Instruction applies to the reporting of Bridge Strikes to:

Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate;

Railway Accident Investigation Branch;

Department for Transport Bridge Strike Prevention Group;

Network Rail management.

This Work Instruction applies to permanent and temporary Bridges on Network Rail infrastructure as follows:

all Underline Bridges spanning roads or under which vehicular traffic may reasonably be expected to pass;

all Underline Bridges spanning navigable waterways, except those navigable only by small pleasure craft;

all Overline Bridges carrying roads or which may reasonably be expected to carry vehicular traffic.

This Instruction applies to all such Network Rail owned or managed, Shared or Outside Party Bridges.

This Work Instruction does not apply to:

Bridge Strikes by small pleasure craft and other small vessels, which are unlikely to cause damage to Bridges;

Bridge Strikes by rail vehicles or their loads, or by rail-mounted plant (which are to be recorded as a possession irregularity);

vehicle incursions onto Network Rail infrastructure, except where such incursions are a consequence of the collision of a vehicle with the parapets of a Bridge.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to define the processes and the responsibilities for reporting information on Bridge Strikes.