Corney Reach - Barnes Rail Bridge Headroom Reductions & Arch Closures

Mariners are advised that on Monday 21st July 2025, contractors working on behalf of Network Rail will commence maintenance and bridge strengthening works at Barnes Rail Bridge. These works will involve the erection of scaffolding under the bridge, persons working within this scaffolding once erected and vessels working within arches closed to navigation. These works are expected to last 9 weeks and involve both a standing arch height reduction and arch closures. 

Throughout this period there will be a standing arch headroom reduction of no more than 1.6 metres in Arch 2 and 2.0 metres in Arch 1 & 3 as per the below figures:   

Where the headroom is reduced, this will be displayed in accordance with the Port of London Authority Thames Byelaw 36.2, namely:  

• By Day – A bundle of straw large enough to be easily visible and displayed at the height of restricted headroom;  
• By Night – A white light in place of the bundle of straw.  

Mariners transiting Barnes Rail Bridge shall do so with caution and full awareness of their air draught.  

To further accommodate these works, the arches of Barnes Rail Bridge will be closed to navigation as follows: 

*Only one arch will be closed to navigation at a time. 

During closures of Arch 1; users of human-powered vessels in the Inshore Zone, should revert to the COLREGS in order to transit Arch 2. They should revert back to the Tideway Code once completely clear of the bridge and when safe to do so. 

At times through the works, a Multicat vessel and barge will be moored within the arch closed to navigation. 

Guard boats will be in attendance during arch closures, as a visual reinforcement of the closed arch. 

All vessels involved in the works will maintain a listening watch on VHF Channel 14. 

Arches closed to navigation will be marked in accordance with the Port of London Authority Thames Byelaws 2012 namely:   

• By day, three red discs 0.6 metres in diameter at the points of an equilateral triangle with the apex downwards and the base horizontal  
• By night, three red lights in similar positions to the discs displayed by day.  

Requirements to proceed with caution or at slow speed will be made in accordance with the procedure set out in the Port of London Authority’s Port Information Guide, under ‘Speed Reductions’ with the International Code Flags ‘Romeo Yankee’ displayed, which are illustrated below.

Further details will be broadcast by London VTS on VHF Channel 14.