Passengers looking to travel on routes utilising the Brotherton Bridge near Knottingley have been advised to check their journeys ahead of renewal works on the structure.
An 800,000 GBP investment will be carried out over the August bank holiday weekend (29–31 August) that will see renewal works carried out on the track support system across Brotherton Bridge via the replacement of ageing sections with modern fibre-reinforced components.
The works will take place during the August bank holiday weekended
© Network Rail
This is anticipated to enable the continued safe use of the section of line, with repairs and repainting work also set to be carried out whilst the scaffolding remains in place.
Brotherton Bridge has carried trains across the River Aire since the mid-19th century. Originally built as a tubular railway bridge during the Victorian era, a former superstructure was replaced in 1903 with the steel bridge that continues to serve the railway to this day.
The Bridge is part of a larger viaduct complex incorporating approach arches on either side of the river, marking its significance as a key piece of railway engineering infrastructure.
Additionally, bank holiday weekend renewal work will also be carried out on the 1.4km of track at Sherburn in Elmet, with the overall package of work expected to affect some Northern and TransPennine Express journeys in the area from Saturday 29 to Monday 31 August, with buses replacing trains between Selby and York/Leeds/Micklefield, and between York and Moorthorpe.
Karen Duffy, Network Rail operations director, said:
Brotherton Bridge is a key piece of railway infrastructure, and these works will see the renewal of waybeams, which support the rails across structures like bridges, alongside essential repairs and repainting.
Combining this work with track renewal at Sherburn in Elmet allows us to make the best use of the time the railway is closed and deliver improvements that will support smoother, more reliable journeys.
We’re sorry to anyone whose journey will be affected and appreciate the understanding of passengers while the work is carried out.