Maidenhead Railway Bridge

 

Maidenhead Railway Bridge

The Grade II* listed Maidenhead Railway Bridge carries the Great Western Main Line across the River Thames and is one of Brunel’s most famous engineering achievements. When it was constructed in the 1830s, it had the longest and flattest brick arches ever attempted - 128 feet wide with a rise of only 24 ft - thanks to a pioneering use of calculus.

The bridge was sympathetically enlarged in the 1890s to Brunel’s original design, to enable the tracks to be quadrupled, but since then little changed. Most recently, overhead line electrification equipment was erected across it as part of the Crossrail project.

A mast design was given permission in the Crossrail Act, but this dated from the 1990s and did not meet the latest operational and technical requirements. Our role was to advise Crossrail and Network Rail on a bespoke new portal frame design that would have the least impact on this historic viaduct, and to negotiate its approval with English Heritage and local authorities. The negotiations were successful and the gantries were installed.

Client: Crossrail Ltd and Network Rail