Do bridge strikes bring in money? Community council want answers from Network Rail
Concerns have been raised that Network Rail are quids in every time that a railway bridge in Cleland is struck by a vehicle.
And that has lead to residents questioning why no action has been taken to raise the bridge.
Last month the Wishaw Press reported that neighbours had welcomed an investigation into raising one of the most struck bridges by HGVs in Scotland.
North Lanarkshire Council have agreed to undertake a feasibility study at removing high restrictions at the Bellside Bridge on the A73.
HGVs use the bridge through Cleland when there is a diversion on the motorway.
It has led to HGVs and lorries hitting the bridge as they are unaware of the height restriction there.
The community council have complained about the increase in HGVs entering and leaving the village’s industrial estate.
Some vehicles have been stuck under the bridge, leading to traffic chaos in the village.
Cleland Community Council have been campaigning for several years to raise the bridge or lower the road there.
At last month’s community council meeting, Louise Roarty, chairman of the group, said she wrote a letter to Network Rail, Transport Scotland and the Transport Minister asking how much money Network Rail receive when the bridge is hit by a vehicle.
She said: “I wrote to Transport Minister and Transport Scotland about strikes to the bridge as we have been led to believe that every time bridge is struck it leads to compensation either from the insured driver or the company they work for.
“I asked how much is given to Network Rail on a daily basis. “That needs publicised.” Another commu n i t y councillor added: “It is an incentive for them not to do anything.”
“Network Rail would be getting lots of money and that’s why they don’t want to do anything to the bridge.”
In her letter to Network Rail, Mrs Roarty wrote: “Do Network Rail claim on the insurance of drivers who strike Bridge 22 on the A73, Carlisle Road at Bellside? Maybe not the individual driver but the company they work for? If so, how much revenue does this generate?
“I am sure this should be in the public domain.”
Network Rail didn’t make any comment as the Wishaw Press reached our deadline.
The feasibility study will look at options for raising the bridge deck, replacing the bridge and lowering the road local to the bridge.
The study is programmed to be completed by April.