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train passengers inside wales suffered hours of delay over the weekend after a swarm cows Attacked the station platform.
On the morning of Sunday, October 12, passengers on a train at Neath station in the south-west Wales market town were left at a loss for words when cows started roaming around on the platform.
“They’re here,” a passenger can be heard saying in video footage captured from the parked train. “Oh, they want to catch the train. It’s so much fun,”
Despite the delay, passengers were very excited when they saw the cattle landing on the platform and were capturing the cows on camera.
The traveler joked, “Runaway cows.” “I love it.”
“Crazy,” someone else can be heard saying through the laughter.
Passengers were ready with their phones to capture the bizarre scene of about 12 cows strolling on the platform.
The cows strayed onto the railway line near the station and had to be taken back through the platform by the staff, Wire Informed.
Great Western Railway (GWR) confirmed the incident, saying its services were disrupted due to the four-legged encroachers.
As a result of the cows, lines were blocked and train services between Cardiff Central and Swansea were either canceled or delayed while the problem was resolved.
Amidst the incident the train operator posted on Twitter: “Due to animals on the railway in Neath, all lines are blocked.”
“Train services between Cardiff Central and Swansea may be canceled or delayed. Disruption is expected until 2.30pm,” GWR said in a since-deleted post from Sunday.
One passenger who was affected by the unexpected trespassers was Justin, who was traveling on the 10.32am service to Bristol via Manchester Piccadilly Trainline.
he told walesonline That there was a delay of just over two hours because of the cows.
Railway line spokesperson said Wire Anyone affected should contact Great Western Railway’s customer service team or station staff.
network rail It was revealed in 2024 that cows They are only fifth in the list of invasive animals that cause delays when they wander on the tracks.
While humans usually top the list as railway trespassers, deer come in second place with 349 incidents between the 12-month period in 2023 to 2024.
After deer, sheep are the biggest culprits of encroachment with 177 incidents, followed by birds at fourth place with 172 incidents and cows at fifth place with 156 incidents.
Dogs, cats, badgers and foxes across the country feature in Network Rail’s list of “worst trespass offenders”.
There were also some rogue incidents of various animals including bees, rats, elephants and even a llama and a tortoise entering the tracks without permission.
Network Rail has tried to implement strategies to keep animals off train tracks, such as AI detection that triggers alarms and maintenance of fences.
Independent Great Western Railways has been contacted for comment.
Read more: Railway workers receive expert training on how to remove intruding swans on tracks