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Train derails after hitting cows at Welsh Hook, Pembrokeshire

A train carrying 30 passengers derailed in Pembrokeshire after hitting cows on the line, says Arriva Trains Wales.

Nobody was injured and the passengers have now left the train, which was travelling from Gloucester to Fishguard Harbour.

The train derailed at Welsh Hook near Wolfscastle at about 19:00 BST, said Mid and West Wales Fire Service. Road transport has been organised for the passengers and arrangements are being made to move the two-car train.

It is understood only the first car of the train derailed after it hit the cows. Police and fire appliances went to the scene. A vet was also called. Firefighters said nobody was trapped and there were no injuries.

One passenger, Tony Evans, told BBC Wales: "We were coming through Wolfscastle on our way back to Fishguard Harbour and, three or four minutes after passing through Wolfscastle, I heard the horn on the train going about three or four times, then the brakes were being jammed on. You could feel the train sliding on the track. I believe there were cows on the rail line and, unfortunately, the cows received fatal injuries but nobody at all was hurt on the train. The driver did exceptionally well in what could have been a very nasty accident. On the left hand side of the train there must have been about a 60 or 70ft drop and we were very fortunate."

Another passenger, Ray Clulow, said: "Everybody on the train was fine. They all kept calm, we were just a bit startled."

Local people expressed shock at what had happened. Peter James said: "Around seven o'clock we just looked out of the house window here, me and the boys, and we just saw the fire engines and a number of police cars. To our amazement, we heard there had been a train derailment."

Steve Bryant, of Mid and West Wales Fire Service, said the incident could have been a lot more serious. "The train was partially derailed so our main priority was to ensure the safety of the passengers and the crew, which we did," he said. "We then safely evacuated the passengers and the crew from the train, escorted them up the track to the road here where they've now been taken by coach on to their destination."

National Rail Enquiries said the derailed train was causing disruption in the Fishguard Harbour area. Trains were unable to run between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour and there was no estimate for when a normal service would resume. Buses were running between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour in the meantime.

Cows got on track causing derailment after 'repairs'

Cows which caused a train derailment in Pembrokeshire are thought to have got onto the track through a footpath level crossing where repairs were recently carried out.

Thirty passengers were on the service to Fishguard Harbour when it hit cows at about 19:00 BST on Thursday.

Network Rail said it was taking the incident at Welsh Hook very seriously and an investigation was under way.

The train has been put back on the track where it is awaiting inspection.

The line is expected to be reopened for scheduled services on Sunday afternoon.

Mark Langman, Network Rail's route managing director, said he fully understood "the distress caused to passengers on the train and to the local community".

"We are working closely with British Transport Police, Arriva Trains Wales and the Office of Rail Regulation to understand the sequence of events that took place," he said. "We believe that the cows entered the railway via a footpath level crossing where repairs had been conducted within the last few weeks."

A bus service is operating between Carmarthen and Fishguard Harbour but passengers have been warned to allow more time for their journey.

The disruption will affect passengers catching ferries to Ireland but services west of Carmarthen to Milford Haven and Tenby are not affected.

The first car of the train derailed in the incident.

Fire crews evacuated the train, and walked them up the track to the road where they were met by a coach to continue their journey.

At about 18:45 hrs on 12 July 2012 train 1B67, the 14:35 hrs service from Gloucester to Fishguard Harbour, consisting of a two-car class 150 diesel multiple unit, which was travelling at about 55 mph, struck cattle on the line. All wheels of the leading carriage derailed, and the train came to rest with this carriage leaning to the left.

(http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources/Letterston%20Junction.jpg)
The train after the derailment (image courtesy of Network Rail)

There were 28 passengers and two crew on the train. No-one was hurt. The passengers were evacuated from the train by 20:20 hrs and continued their journey by road. Seven cows were fatally injured.

Initial indications are that the cows had entered the railway at a footpath crossing about half a mile from where the derailment took place.

good old 150's, they're robust old machines! dread to think what would have happened to a 14x unit!

The RAIB has decided not to conduct a full investigation because it does not believe that this would identify any significant new lessons relating to railway safety. However, the occurrence of this accident demonstrates the importance of preventing livestock from getting onto the railway line. Railway infrastructure managers should ensure that they have adequate arrangements in place to inspect, repair and renew lineside fences and gates, and that their fences and gates are built and installed to a standard which is appropriate for the location and is, where necessary, stock proof.