Footbridge struck by out-of-gauge railway load at Lydney, Gloucestershire, 14 August 2025.
At 10:55 on Thursday 14 August, a footbridge spanning the Dean Forest Railway at St Mary's Halt, Lydney, was struck and destroyed by a 360-degree excavator that was being transported on a railway wagon designed for that purpose. The excavator belonged to the railway and had been loaded at Lydney Junction, but with the boom positioned too high to safely pass under the footbridge. A collision occurred and part of the footbridge landed on the train, which included a guard's van carrying railway volunteers. There were no injuries.
The footbridge connected public footpaths on either side of the railway.
We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest .
