The unorthodox cause of a four-hour delay on the West Coast Main Line has left commuters scratching their heads. A herd of cows somehow managed to get onto the platform in Staffordshire, blocking the tracks and disrupting train services.
The cows, which escaped from a nearby field, caused problems for multiple train services, including Avanti West Coast and Lumo, as well as London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway. One stranded passenger took to social media to ask, "How long does it take to move cows off the line?"
Network Rail's teams attended the scene and, with assistance from local farmers, were able to resolve the situation around 1pm. Normal working will now resume, and the rail operator has apologized to those affected by the disruption.
The incident serves as a reminder of the many unpredictable factors that can cause delays on the rail network. While leaves on the line and flooding are common culprits, it's not often that a herd of cows is to blame.
