Keighley & Worth Valley Railway bridge needs 'urgent repair'

The charity that runs the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway has applied for permission to replace one of the bridges on the heritage line.

Structural surveys have found that Bridge 27 at Bridgehouse Lane in Haworth needs work to replace rusting metal and rotting timbers and repairing stonework.

It says the structure, which dates back to the 1880s “has reached the end of its useable life.”

The bridge that will be replaced (Image: KWVR)

Last year the railway was awarded £1m by Government to repair the bridge, and the first stage of the work is expected to start later this month.

Running from Keighley to Oxenhope, via Haworth, the railway is a hugely popular tourist attraction that attracts tens of thousands of people each year.

The application submitted to Bradford Council last week says it will be impossible to create a like for like replacement for the bridge, and a modern, steel structure will be needed.

An artist's impression of the replacement bridge (Image: KWVR)

The group that runs the railway says initial works to divert drainage are due to start on April 14 – with the bulk of the work taking place in September.

The work will likely require the rail line to close for around three weeks.

The website for the railway describes the bridge replacement of the bridge as “without a doubt one of the biggest civil engineering projects the railway has undertaken".

A letter from the organisation included in the application says: “Structural engineers’ reports have determined that the bridge has now reached the end of its usable life, both due to the condition of the superstructure iron girders and the abutments and pier on which the superstructure rests.

Some of the damaged stonework under the bridge (Image: KWVR)

“The bridge therefore requires urgent replacement.

“The bridge is located in a conservation area. It is not possible to replace the bridge like-for-like due to:

• The need to meet modern standards of bridge design and derailment protection necessitating the upward extension of the bridge superstructure.
• The need to maintain or reduce the contribution of the bridge to flooding in the Haworth area arising from Bridgehouse Beck.
• The need to achieve compliance with modern work at height legislation by reducing the risk arising from necessary work at height over a watercourse.”

A structural engineer’s report included in the application says: “The main defects relate to high levels of structural section loss to primary deck members resulting from paint loss and corrosion over the years.

“The section loss to the main girders could significantly reduce the safe load capacity of the bridge and consideration should be given to implementing appropriate measures to safeguard the railway over this structure.”

A decision on the application is expected next month.