Network Rail Says Railway Bridge Collapse Blocks 17:00 Friday Repairs

A railway bridge between Rugby and Nuneaton partially collapsed after a vehicle hit it on Thursday, blocking trains through Warwickshire until at least 17:00 BST on Friday. The incident happened on Marston Lane in Whitestone, Nuneaton, and left all lines blocked.

Network Rail said trains would be cancelled, delayed by up to 60 minutes or diverted via Birmingham. Services on the route may also start or end at Rugby or Nuneaton rather than run the full journey.

Marston Lane in Whitestone

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews were called at about 15:30 BST on Thursday to reports of a lorry hitting a railway bridge on Marston Lane. Fire crews remained at the scene while structural engineers assessed the bridge.

The road was closed between Forders Lane and Nuneaton Road. There were no reports of any injuries, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Network Rail on Friday

Network Rail said, “Our teams are working to assess the damage to the bridge and keep passengers moving,” while the line remained shut. The disruption affected a major route through Warwickshire, with the block on all lines forcing operators to alter trains already on the move and those due later in the day.

Passengers whose journeys were changed by the closure faced a mix of cancellations, delays and rerouting, with some services cut short on either side of the damaged bridge. Those planning to travel on the West Coast Main Line needed to check whether their train would run through Nuneaton or be turned back or diverted via Birmingham.

West Coast Main Line

The immediate issue for passengers was not just the collapse itself, but the loss of a through route on a key line. Until the bridge is safe enough for trains to pass, journeys on the affected stretch remain subject to disruption that Network Rail expects to last into Friday afternoon.