Orwell Bridge closed and rail network suspended during Storm Eunice

A major incident was declared in Suffolk on the morning of 18 February 2022 as Storm Eunice reached the county, with the Orwell Bridge closed in both directions and rail networks operating a reduced service¹. The decision was taken by partners in the Suffolk Resilience Forum, including councils, health bodies, utility companies and the emergency services, following an assessment of the situation facing the county; the declaration formalised joint-working and resource sharing arrangements¹.

Parts of Suffolk were placed in the red warning zone early that morning, which the county council said means there is a significant risk to life, and forecasters expected gusts of wind of up to 80mph between 10am and 3pm¹. A day earlier the council had said an amber weather warning was in place for much of England on Friday 18 February, with the Met Office warning of significant disruption and danger to life, and that the Orwell Bridge would be closed in both directions from 4:00am². More than 100 schools closed and students moved to online learning, libraries and Family Hubs closed, and some waste collections were affected¹.

In an update published on 21 February, the council reported the following figures for the response in Suffolk³:

Jon Lacey, Suffolk's Chief Fire Officer and chair of the Suffolk Resilience Forum group coordinating the joint response, said:

The 21 February update said the Orwell Bridge remained closed in both directions and the rail network was suspended, and that this weekend's forecasts predicted rain, very cold temperatures and more high winds, so caution was being urged³. The council asked the public to drive to the conditions with debris and surface water expected, to report fallen trees and obstructions on roads and paths to Suffolk Highways on 0345 606 6171, to avoid coastal areas because of an increased risk of erosion posing danger to life, and to plan journeys well in advance and check for travel disruption before leaving³. Further information on power cuts was directed to UK Power Networks on 105, with damaged powerlines reportable to the same number, or 999 where there is an immediate risk to public safety³. With disruption to power supplies, people were encouraged to keep mobile phones fully charged and have torches to hand, and, if using candles or tea lights, to ensure they are on a hard surface and not left unattended³.

Why it matters for households

The closure of the Orwell Bridge and the suspension of rail services affected anyone planning to cross the bridge or travel by train in the county, and the council advised checking for travel disruption before leaving³. Power cuts were already widespread, with 13,900 properties in Suffolk reported without supply on 21 February³. The council's safety advice remained in place because of the amount of fallen debris and winds still affecting Suffolk, and households were warned of rain, very cold temperatures and more high winds over the weekend³. The county's guidance on preparing for power loss, reporting obstructions and avoiding the coast applied to residents across Suffolk, not only those in the red warning zone³. Our guide to trains, buses and bridge closures in bad weather sets out how such disruption is handled, and the storms and snow hub covers the wider picture.

What happens next

Suffolk Highways teams were to work throughout the night on the 30 scheduled reports of fallen trees and obstructions, with 12 being tackled at the time of the 21 February update³. The council said safety advice given earlier that day remained in place, and pointed residents to @SuffolkCC on Twitter and Suffolk County Council on Facebook, the Met Office forecast, and @HighwaysEAST for the latest information on Orwell Bridge closures³. School closure information was available at schoolclosures.suffolk.gov.uk, and flood advice from gov.uk/flood or Floodline on 0345 988 1188¹. No date for reopening the bridge or restoring the full rail service was given in the updates published on 17, 18 and 21 February³.