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  • Abnormal road loads

    If you are moving an abnormal load that affects one of our structures (for example a road bridge over the railway or a road over one of our tunnels) you are required by regulation (SI 1998 The Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003), to notify us.

  • How to notify us

    To be compliant you must send us notification before the move:

    • For gross vehicle weights up to 80 tonnes we need two clear working days
    • For gross vehicle weights between 80 tonnes and 150 tonnes we need five clear working days

    To help you choose the best routes, we are providing an indicative capacity appraisal (ICA) for each of our structures where a road passes over one of our bridges or tunnels.

    This information identifies each road carried by the bridge or tunnel, its location and a maximum allowable gross vehicle weight for each STGO category. This will allow you to check whether your vehicle can pass over the structure.

    If you have planned your route using the information contained in the ICAs it means that generally, we will not challenge your notice to us.

    If you discover that the ICA for a particular structure is not suitable, you should select a different route to avoid it or, if there is no practical alternative route, you can ask us to carry out an additional appraisal.

    You can download tables containing this information and more detailed guidance from the Download section on this page.

    Sign up for update notifications

    We will review the ICA data regularly - if you would like us to let you know when changes are made and receive information on related topics, please complete and return the haulier contact details form.

    Notification submission using ICA compliant route

    Email  Abnormal.Loads@networkrail.co.uk
    Fax  0121 345 4396 

    Notification where route is not ICA compliant

    Email  AbnormalLoads.AdditionalAppraisal@networkrail.co.uk
    Fax  0121 345 4361 

    General enquiries

    Email AbnormalLoadsContact@networkrail.co.uk 

    Address:
    Abnormal Loads team c/o Francis Hennigan
    Network Rail - The Quadrant
    Elder Gate
    Milton Keynes
    MK9 1EN

    Telephone: 01908 783 140