Train Services Resume After Vehicle Bridge Strike Paignton

Train services between Newton Abbot and Paignton in Devon were temporarily suspended after a vehicle collided with a railway bridge near Paignton, causing the line to be blocked and resulting in delays and cancellations. Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) confirmed the disruption started around midday, with trains cancelled while the bridge was inspected for safety. Passengers were advised that tickets could be used on Stagecoach route 12 buses between several stations at no extra cost. Although the disruption was initially expected to last until approximately 1:30 p.m., services resumed earlier, with normal train operations restored by about 1:00 p.m. Authorities declared the bridge safe for trains to run again, ending the service interruption. The incident caused significant but short-lived disruption to local rail travel in Devon on the affected day.