Train chaos to final seven hours as cows block certainly one of UK’s busiest railway strains
Avanti West Coast and Lumo services between London Euston and Scotland, along with London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services are affected
A herd of cows caused the disruption(Image: Getty Images)
Thousands of people have had their travel plans disrupted after one of the country’s busiest railway lines was blocked – by a a herd of cows.
Trains between London and Manchester were among those cancelled after the animals wandered on to Britain’s busiest intercity railway line.
Delays and disruptions affected a number of train services after the errant cows blocked the west coast mainline in Staffordshire for more than three hours between Lichfield Trent Valley and Rugeley Trent Valley.
Avanti West Coast and Lumo services between London Euston and Scotland, along with London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services are all experiencing delays and cancellations as a result of the incident.
The cow incursion, which occurred shortly before 9am, was expected to affect services until 4pm.
Railway staff had difficulties contacting the farmer responsible for the animals involved, it was reported.
Tickets are being accepted on certain alternative routes and road transport is also being provided. Many affected passengers expressed their frustration on social media.
One wrote to Avanti West Coast that they were stuck on a train that had “not moved for three hours”, while another complained they had only been offered one 330ml bottle of water, adding: “I’m sure your shop is doing great business”.
Another stranded passenger posted on X to ask “How long will these delays last?” and “How long does it take to move cows off the line?”.
It comes just a day after PM-in-waiting Andy Burnham announced plans for No 10 operations split between London and Manchester.
The newly elected Makerfield MP was himself late to arrive in Westminster last week to be sworn in due to another delayed Avanti train in a separate incident. Cows were not involved in that delay.
Mr Burnham has called for the UK to be “able to take greater public control” of transport.
