Urgent repairs to take place on Reedham Swing Bridge

Network Rail engineers are working to fix Reedham swing bridge this summer following a major mechanical fault which means its operators can’t reliably open it to let larger boats pass through.

Railway tracks stretch across a bridge over a river in a flat rural landscape. The tracks lead towards open green fields on the horizon, passing a small signal or control building beside the bridge. Trees and vegetation line both sides of the railway in the foreground, while sunlight reflects on the water below. The scene is viewed from an elevated position under a bright blue sky with light cloud.

The bridge, which carries trains over the River Yare as well as swinging open for the safe passage of larger boats, is being affected by problems with its central bearing. The bearing forms part of the main pivot and helps to support the structure as it opens and closes. Teams are already on site carrying out preparatory works ahead of replacing the bearing entirely.

Fixing the 123-year-old bridge will involve a complex programme of engineering, expected to be delivered as follows:

  • Until Friday 7 August – preparatory works, including construction of a temporary support frame to take weight off the bearing while it is replaced
  • Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August – removal of old bearing
  • Monday 10 August to Friday 28 August – full assessment of the mechanism and final preparation of new components
  • Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August – installation of new bearing
  • Monday 31 August to mid-September – follow-up works including dismantling the support frame, testing and commissioning

Although train services are not directly affected by the fault, the railway over the bridge will need to be closed on the weekends of 8 / 9 August and 29 / 30 August to allow the repair to take place. Norwich to Lowestoft services will be replaced by a direct bus service, also calling at Oulton Broad North. Some additional train services will run from Norwich to Great Yarmouth calling at Brundall, Buckenham, Cantley and Reedham. Passengers are advised to check greateranglia.co.uk before they travel.

In order to provide some access for users of larger boat users, engineers ran extensive tests to see if operators could manually swing the bridge on a limited basis without causing further damage. Following analysis of the test results, Network Rail has worked with the Broads Authority to confirm three bridge opening slots over the coming week. The schedule, shown below, is intended to minimise the risk of further issues that could lead to the bridge repairs taking significantly longer than planned.

Reedham swing bridge openings to take place as follows:

  • Friday 31 July - 09:13am to 10:01am
  • Tuesday 4 August - 09:13am to 10:01am and 18:13pm to 19:01pm

Engineers will carefully monitor the bridge during each swing and the plan for the openings will be kept under close review. Hot weather restrictions on the bridge will also apply as normal – the bridge can’t be swung if temperatures get too high because its main structures and rails expand in the heat.

No swings can take place after 4 August until repairs are complete. The bridge is expected to be brought back into full operation by mid-September, assuming the repair process is as planned. More updates will follow in due course.

Joe Kennedy, Infrastructure Director for Network Rail Anglia, said: “We’re so sorry for the disruption to boat users, passengers and neighbours caused by the mechanical fault at Reedham swing bridge. This will be a major, complex repair of a bridge that is both a critical piece of infrastructure and an important heritage landmark for the region. We are working flat out to get Reedham back into working order again.”

Rob Rogers, Director of Delivery for the Broads Authority, said: “Whilst most boats on the Broads are able to pass underneath the bridge we are acutely aware that there are still some who depend on it being able to swing open. We’ve been in close contact with Network Rail regarding the complexity of the repair process and mitigating the risks of further damage. I am pleased that we have been able to agree these scheduled openings. We understand the frustrations for owners of large boats who have been inconvenienced. We thank them for their patience regarding this issue.”

Boat users with questions about the repairs to Reedham swing bridge can contact Network Rail at: networkrail.co.uk/contact-us

Tuesday 28 July 2026

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