The present leaflet provides guidelines and recommendations covering procedures for the maintenance and strengthening of railway bridges. It includes inspection arrangements and methods, descriptions of defects, monitoring and assessment methods and maintenance, repair, strengthening and renewal procedures. The purpose is to update the 1989 edition of UIC Leaflet 778-4 and implement results from a European Integrated Research Project (2003-2008) on "Sustainable Bridges - Assessment for Future Traffic Demands and Longer Lives" (TIP3-CT-2003-001653) which had formed part of the 6th Framework Programme.