Rail strikes to disrupt Kingsferry Bridge openings

Industrial action by the rail union RMT is expected to disrupt the operation of Kingsferry Bridge. Strikes are planned for June 21st, 23rd and 25th; however, the impact will also affect periods outside of these days. Normal service will be maintained up to 06:00 on Tuesday 21st June and will not resume until the 26th. Network Rail have implemented a contingency plan to cater for the spells of industrial action meaning the bridge will be manned and lifts available over the following dates and time periods:

Tuesday 21st June 2022 Midnight – 06:00 and 08:00 – 20:00
Wednesday 22nd June 2022 06:00 – Midnight
Thursday 23rd June 2022 Midnight – 18:00
Friday 24th June 2022 06:00 – Midnight
Saturday 25th June 2022 Midnight – 06:00 and 07:00 – 19:00

Priority will be given to commercial shipping, however, leisure craft will also be able to transit the bridge but it is advised to give as much notice as possible to avoid delays. If talks between employers and the unions are successful and industrial action is avoided a cancellation notice will be issued.

One thought on “Rail strikes to disrupt Kingsferry Bridge openings”

  1. The operation of the bridge has had spasmodic disruption during any weather which appears to be above 20-22 deg C this year, with openings were only taking place for commercial vessels.
    An increasing number of craft have found the bridge ‘refusing’ to open – last week a friend sailed up from Harty and had to backtrack and go round the outside. This also, apparently, happened to the spritsail barge Edith May on passage to Whitstable from Queenborough. She had to back track and go outside. Surely, she’s classed as commercial…
    Strikes aside, if the bridge has ‘bind points’ when hot, it isn’t, surely, beyond the powers of basic engineering to ‘take a file’ to the problem.
    Thankfully, I am not planning to go that way until sometime in August.
    I would say though, apart from one incident (accident) we haven’t had any problem – ‘we’ think the bridge operators like seeing Whimbrel!

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