You are here:

News

Damaged rail bridge will not mar festival

28th Jun 2007

The Environment Agency is assuring boaters that a navigation closure caused by a derailed goods train will not stop the year’s biggest inland waterways boating festival.

Navigation on the Ely Ouse between Popes Corner and Ely has been closed to boaters after a train carrying aggregates derailed in the early hours of Friday, 22 June, damaging the bridge structure and tipping aggregates into the river.

Environment Agency officers were called out at 4.30am and immediately closed the river while pollution booms were placed either side of the bridge to contain any oils and hydraulic fluids that may leak from the trucks. Waterways staff were also deployed along the riverbank to advise river traffic of the situation ahead.

Network Rail, which is managing the recovery, is due to start building a temporary access road next week so that lifting gear can access the bridge and start removing the trucks. An environmental protection team from the Environment Agency will be on hand to monitor any pollution that may end up in the water during this process. The bridge decking, which was badly damaged in the accident, will then be removed before the debris from the bridge and the deposited aggregates are cleared from the river channel.

Navigation closure will remain in place until the trucks have been secured and the bridge has been made safe. It is hoped that the river will be open to river traffic again by the end of August. Boaters hoping to navigate the Ely Ouse on their way to August’s Inland Waterways Association Festival in St Ives, one of the biggest boating events of the year, are being advised to use the Hundred Foot Drain instead.

Nathan Arnold, waterways team leader at the Environment Agency said: "We are working closely with Network Rail to ensure that the situation is dealt with safely and the navigation is open again as soon as possible. In the meantime we are advising boaters to use the Hundred Foot River, which starts at Denver and rejoins the Great Ouse at Earith, and is a good alternative route to the festival site at St Ives."

"As the Hundred Foot river is tidal, we would advise that boaters contact staff at Denver Lock, who can advise on tide times and bridge heights, to make their passage easy and enjoyable."

IWA Marketing manager Gillian Bolt commented: "Although this is an unfortunate incident it’s not a disaster for the Festival, as luckily there is an alternative route available. Boaters may even get to see more of the Anglian waterways by using the Hundred Foot River to get to the festival and the Ely Ouse to go home again."

Find stoppages on the River Great Ouse.

Other stoppages

Last updated: 22/10/2008