Flood-hit line to reopen

Friday 1st February 2008, 11:41AM GMT.

Trains will return to the flood-damaged Severn Valley in Shropshire next weekend despite a hit-and-run driver damaging a bridge at Bridgnorth station, bosses said today.

A lorry is thought to have hit and dislodged the bridge over the B4363 Cleobury Mortimer road causing £10,000 worth of damage.

The incident only came to light this week during checks by SVR staff in preparation for the planned reopening of the the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade on February 9.

Highways chiefs today said the B4363 would be closed for two days from Wednesday for emergency repairs to the bridge.

John Leach, spokesman for the Severn Valley Railway, said: “A lorry ran into the bridge at Bridgnorth station but failed to report it. It has moved the bridge so we are having to close that bit of road and lift it back into place. It is not going to stop us opening again on February 9.”

Mr Leach said the railway, which has been partly closed since suffering millions of pounds worth of damage in last June’s floods, had largely avoided any damage in last week’s flooding.

He said repair work on stretch of the track between Arley and Highley had been affected but none of the line between Bridgnorth and Hampton Loade was damaged again.

The tourist attraction hopes to fully reopen for the Easter weekend.

View more: Bridgnorth news, South Shropshire news.