Lorries hitting a railway bridge in Wimbledon have been blamed for causing train delays.

Network Rail has revealed that HGVs colliding with bridges caused more than 150,000 minutes, equivalent to 100 days, of train delays across the UK train network last year.

Figures show that the railway bridge in Lower Downs Road, which South Western trains travelling between Wimbledon and Raynes Park run over, was the joint second most bashed nationwide.

In total, 17 lorries collided with the bridge between April 2023 and March 2024.

This is only one fewer incident than the number recorded at the worst affected bridge at Stuntney Road in Ely.

Across the UK, 1,532 reported bridge strikes cost Britain’s rail industry around £20m in delays, cancellations and repairs, Network Rail said.

Another London railway bridge at Kenworthy Road in Hackney, which carries Overground trains travelling between Homerton and Hackney Wick, had 11 impacts, the seventh highest total in the country.

Despite these incidents, the last two consecutive years have seen a reduction in the total number of crashes recorded on the network, with a 4% reduction in the last year alone.

Martin Frobisher, Network Rail’s group safety and engineering director, said: “These incidents can delay tens of thousands of passengers while we inspect the bridge and repair any damage – creating cost from public funds which should be used upgrading and improving our network.

“We urge operators and drivers to properly plan their routes, know the height of their vehicles and be vigilant for road signs showing the height of bridges.”