Cows on the line cause major delays to trains
A herd of cows wandered onto the railway track on Tuesday, leading to significant disruption on one of the UK's busiest rail routes.
The West Coast Main Line was blocked in Staffordshire between Lichfield Trent Valley and Rugeley Trent Valley from just before 09:00 BST, according to National Rail Enquiries.
This incident caused delays and cancellations affecting Avanti West Coast and Lumo services running between London Euston and Scotland, as well as London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services.
The lines have since reopened, but passengers were advised to expect ongoing disruption until at least 16:00.
Officials stated that tickets were being accepted on some alternative routes and that road transport was being provided to assist affected passengers.
The West Coast Main Line is a major rail artery, connecting London through the West Midlands and Manchester, continuing on to Scotland.
Attempts to contact the farmer responsible for the cows were reportedly difficult, according to the Press Association.
Many passengers expressed frustration on social media. One passenger posted to Avanti West Coast:
"I have been stuck on a train that has not moved for three hours."
Another passenger complained about the limited provisions, stating:
"I'm sure your shop is doing great business," referring to being offered only one 330ml bottle of water.
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