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Bus driver hits rail bridge near Norwood Junction

Bus strikes bridge

A trainee bus driver has crashed into a railway bridge in south London, ripping the vehicle's roof off.

The double-decker, which had no passengers on board, hit the structure just after midday, causing disruption for rail users and motorists.

The bridge, on Portland Road, south Norwood, has previously been struck by vehicles, including in 2015, when seven people were injured, and in December when a driver took a wrong turn.

National Rail said the line had reopened but delays might continue into the evening.

Network Rail Bus with its roof ripped offNetwork Rail
There were no passengers on board the training bus
Google A blurred image of a warning sign, saying buses are too tall for the bridgeGoogle
A warning sign for buses did not seem to have alerted the driver
Network Rail Bus with roof ripped off and men wearing hi-vis vestsNetwork Rail
Firefighters were called to the scene shortly after the crash

Research by Network Rail found a third of drivers of high vehicles admitted to setting off while not being aware of the height of their vehicle or checking the route for low bridges.

On average, there are five bridge strikes every day in the UK, costing about £23m a year.

Costs include bridge repair work, compensation for rail delays, damaged goods in transit and the expense associated with rerouting traffic.

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