Brotherton Bridge repairs will affect rail passengers in Yorkshire over the August bank holiday weekend as Network Rail carries out bridge work and track replacement near Knottingley.

Aerial view of Brotherton Bridge across the River Aire
Aerial view of Brotherton Bridge across the River Aire near Knottingley. Photo: Network Rail

Scheduled from Saturday to Monday, the work will affect several services in the area. The £800,000 railway upgrade includes replacing old sections of track and carrying out essential repairs to the bridge.

A spokesperson for Northern and TransPennine Express said the operators were working with Network Rail to keep passengers moving while the work takes place.

“We’re working closely with Network Rail to keep customers moving while these upgrades take place.

“The work will help improve the reliability of the railway for passengers in the future.”

Brotherton Bridge was built in 1850 and has carried trains across the River Aire for 176 years. The original bridge was replaced in 1903 by the steel structure that continues to carry modern trains.

About 4,590ft (1.4km) of track will also be replaced at Sherburn in Elmet during the weekend.

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Rail disruption during Brotherton Bridge repairs

Several passenger services will change while the work is under way. Buses will replace trains between Selby and York, York and Moorthorpe, and Selby and Micklefield. Replacement buses will also operate between Selby and Leeds.

Trains will not run between York and Sheffield. York–Hull services will be diverted via Selby and York, with no stops at Sherburn in Elmet, Church Fenton or Ulleskelf.

On Hull–Halifax/Leeds services, trains will operate between Leeds and Halifax and separately between Hull and Selby. Services will remain available between Moorthorpe and Sheffield.

Replacement buses will therefore run on four sections: Selby–York, York–Moorthorpe, Selby–Micklefield and Selby–Leeds.

Network Rail details the bridge work

Network Rail has encouraged passengers travelling over the bank holiday weekend to check their journeys in advance and allow extra time.

Karen Duffy, Network Rail’s operations director, said:

“Brotherton Bridge is a key piece of railway infrastructure, and these works will see the renewal of waybeams, which support the rails across structures like bridges, alongside essential repairs and repainting.”

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