THE team behind the replacement of a bridge damaged when a train derailed on the outskirts of Ely have won a prestigious award for the project. Kier Rail built the new bridge over the River Great Ouse in record time after the accident, and has received re

THE team behind the replacement of a bridge damaged when a train derailed on the outskirts of Ely have won a prestigious award for the project.

Kier Rail built the new bridge over the River Great Ouse in record time after the accident, and has received recognition by the Institution of Civil Engineers for its efforts.

Judges visited eight projects in the East of England before crowing the bridge with the Physical Achievement Award.

In June 2007, a goods train pulling 37 wagons was carrying aggregates from Leicestershire to Chelmsford when 11 carriages tilted sideways off the track, tipping some of its load into the river.

Passenger services between Peterborough and Ipswich were disrupted after the accident and river users were left stranded in Ely and St Ives.

The damage caused many engineering problems repairing the bridge, and a road had to be built first to carry heavy materials to the site before reconstruction work could begin.

In their report, the judges said: "To complete a new railway bridge, designed and delivered with four times the capacity of the old bridge and within six months which is how long it might conventionally be allowed to just for the feasibility study, is incredible.