Staines Railway Bridge

Staines Railway Bridge carries the Waterloo to Reading Line across the Thames in England.

Staines Railway Bridge
Over the River Thames
Coordinates51°25′50″N 0°30′40″W
CarriesWaterloo to Reading Line
CrossesRiver Thames
LocaleStaines-upon-Thames
Maintained byNetwork Rail
Characteristics
Height21 feet 0 inches (6.40 m)[1]
No. of spans5
Piers in water2
History
Opened1856
Location

Location

The bridge crosses Laleham Road and the river northeast to southwest from Staines-upon-Thames to Egham Hythe, Surrey, on the Staines Reach (between Penton Hook Lock and Bell Weir Lock). The main Thames Path National Trail is beneath it and southern end of the Hythe towpath on the other bank. Its linked viaducts cross various other roads including Chertsey Road (A320).

Traffic

The bridge carries the Waterloo to Reading Line and all trains serving its spur, the Weybridge or Chertsey Branch which connects this line to the four-track South West Main Line running from London Waterloo to the far south-west, merging with the Devon and Cornwall main line. The bridge is between Staines and Egham stations. The line is low gradient and forms a sharp curve for mid-speed traffic just north-east of here, to head through part of the town centre, finishing almost due east towards London. For freight and Heritage Steam Trains which do not all call at the station within 0.5 miles (0.80 km) east, it is subject to a speed restriction appropriate to its age and condition.

The bridge was completed in 1856.[2]

Staines Railway Bridge from upstream

See also

Crossings of the River Thames

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References
  1. River Thames Alliance. Bridge heights on the River Thames.
  2. Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs 1920 - republished 1968 David & Charles
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