THE IWA has written to Network Rail to express concern about the ongoing problems with the opening times of the Vazon Bridge over the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.
The Vazon Sliding Railway Bridge works by sliding open to allow boats on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal to pass, before returning to its original position, enabling trains to continue with their journey.
The crossing connects trains between Doncaster, Scunthorpe and the Lincolnshire coast and is a busy rail freight route.
The sliding bridge is Britain’s only sliding railway bridge over a canal, with the original structure dating back to the 1860s.
Sensors on the structure alerted Network Rail teams to a fault with its mechanism which involves a key component that allows the bridge to slide across the canal. The part needs replacing and a new one is now being specially made.
Prior to the maintenance work, the bridge was opened for boaters as required, but at the time of writing the bridge is only opened at 10pm each day, with no indication of when normal service will resume.
One daily 10pm opening is not only potentially dangerous due to the need to cruise in the dark but also takes no account of tides, further limiting the availability of navigation.
The bridge is now illuminated and signed to aid boaters, but while this is welcome, it raises the further concern that Network Rail may be looking to make this one opening in 24 hours a permanent arrangement.
Navigation rights at the Vazon bridge precede the railway as the Stainforth and Keadby Canal was already in use when the rail line was built and is covered by an Act of Parliament.
The IWA has asked for reassurance that, once these repairs are complete, the rail bridge will return to its normal service of being opened for boaters when required.
In the meantime, thanks are due to Celyn Winter and Callum Joinson, two members of the Try the Trent group, who have been helping boaters navigate through the rail bridge and the nearby road bridge since night access was required a month ago.
