National Rail said on Friday that train lines between Nuneaton and Rugby had reopened after the bridge collapse, but services on the route were still affected by speed restrictions and possible cancellations, alterations or delays. Passengers were advised to check their journeys before setting out and to allow extra time for travel.
The disruption has affected the West Coast Main Line, one of the UK’s busiest rail corridors, which links London Euston with Glasgow Central and Edinburgh and serves major stations including Manchester Piccadilly, Wolverhampton, Birmingham New Street, Coventry and Milton Keynes. National Rail said the bridge collapse was impacting services operated by Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway.
A spokesperson confirmed that tickets dated for Thursday could still be used on Friday’s services. They also said passengers who no longer wished to travel because of delays or cancellations could request a full refund from the company or retailer where they bought their ticket.
Network Rail said there were 1,666 reported bridge strikes between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The organisation said most of the vehicles involved were lorries and buses, and each incident cost about £13,000 in repairs on average. That adds up to roughly £23 million a year.
As part of a safety campaign, research cited by the organisation found that more than two-fifths of lorry drivers admitted they had not measured their vehicle before setting out, while 52% said they did not take low bridges into account. The findings were used to highlight the risks posed by bridge strikes and the disruption they can cause to rail passengers and freight services.
The latest update means trains are once again moving through the affected section, but the network remains under pressure as operators work to restore normal timetables. Passengers using the West Coast Main Line were urged to stay alert for changes and to verify service information before departure.
Bridge strikes can lead to significant knock-on effects across the rail network, especially on major intercity routes such as the West Coast Main Line. Even after repairs allow a line to reopen, damage to infrastructure and safety checks can keep speeds reduced and services disrupted for hours or longer.
Transport officials and rail operators continue to warn drivers of large vehicles to check height restrictions carefully before travelling, stressing that a single collision with a bridge can trigger widespread delays, cancellations and expensive repair work across the network.
