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Rail operators were warned of cows near tracks before Kent collision Rail operators were warned of cows near tracks before Kent collision
(34 minutes later)
Rail operators were warned that stray cows were near the tracks 90 minutes before a train collided with a herd and partly derailed, it has emerged. Rail operators were warned that stray cows were near the tracks 90 minutes before a train collided with a herd in Kent and partly derailed, it has emerged.
The 8.10pm from Charing Cross to Ramsgate was travelling at around 60 to 70mph when it struck and killed up to five cows on the track between the villages of Wye and Chilham, in Kent, at around 9.45pm on Sunday. Two carriages were derailed. The 8.10pm from Charing Cross to Ramsgate was travelling at 60-70mph when it struck and killed up to five cows on the line between the villages of Wye and Chilham, in Kent, at about 9.45pm on Sunday. Two carriages were derailed.
Network Rail and Southeastern trains revealed they had received reports of stray cattle up to 90 minutes before the collision but after a train was sent at cautionary speed without incident they resumed normal service.Network Rail and Southeastern trains revealed they had received reports of stray cattle up to 90 minutes before the collision but after a train was sent at cautionary speed without incident they resumed normal service.
Related: Cows derail train in KentRelated: Cows derail train in Kent
Some 72 passengers – including two pregnant women – were evacuated by emergency services to nearby Godmersham village hall, but there were no injuries. Seventy-two passengers – including two pregnant women – were evacuated by emergency services to nearby Godmersham village hall, but there were no injuries.
Passenger Christian Ellam, 24, said he was aware rail operators had been warned that cattle were near the track, adding the incident “could have been a hell of a lot worse”. The driver is thought to have prevented a more serious collision when he jumped out of his cabin and halted an oncoming train. Passenger Christian Ellam, 24, said he was aware rail operators had been warned that cattle were near the track, adding the incident “could have been a hell of a lot worse”.
“A member of staff from Southeastern was at the village hall,” Ellam, a coffee shop manager, said. “He explained that they knew before that there were some cows on the track. I want to know why they let a train go through at such a speed. It could have been prevented.”“A member of staff from Southeastern was at the village hall,” Ellam, a coffee shop manager, said. “He explained that they knew before that there were some cows on the track. I want to know why they let a train go through at such a speed. It could have been prevented.”
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has sent a team to the scene to complete a preliminary examination before it decides whether to launch an investigation.The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has sent a team to the scene to complete a preliminary examination before it decides whether to launch an investigation.
Ellam, who is trained in first aid and was travelling from St Pancras International to Chartham after changing at Ashford, donned a high-visibility jacket and assisted the train guard in attending to the driver, who was uninjured but shaken.Ellam, who is trained in first aid and was travelling from St Pancras International to Chartham after changing at Ashford, donned a high-visibility jacket and assisted the train guard in attending to the driver, who was uninjured but shaken.
“It was a horror scene,” he said. “The train completely, suddenly stopped and lights started flickering.“It was a horror scene,” he said. “The train completely, suddenly stopped and lights started flickering.
“The guard came rushing through, panicking. I went out with him in a high-vis jacket to assist the driver. He was shaken up. There were bits of cows all over the place. It was a pretty bad smell.” The guard came rushing through, panicking. I went out with him in a high-vis jacket to assist the driver. He was shaken up. There were bits of cows all over the place. It was a pretty bad smell.”
Passenger Jonathan Calder tweeted a picture from the train showing the carriage in front of his at an angle with the right-hand side of it clearly no longer on the rails. Passenger Jonathan Calder tweeted a picture from the train showing the carriage in front of his at an angle with the right-hand side of it clearly no longer on the rails. He wrote: “Everyone is fine but this train is going nowhere. Front coach derailed.”
He wrote: “Everyone is fine but this train is going nowhere. Front coach derailed.”
This is the coach in front of mine pic.twitter.com/6R37Z83CJbThis is the coach in front of mine pic.twitter.com/6R37Z83CJb
A spokesman for Southeastern said it received a number of calls about livestock on the track before the incident and believed the collision occurred 90 minutes after the first report. A Southeastern spokesman said: “We get numerous calls about livestock on the line where we run trains through rural areas.
The operator said the line will remain closed until at least Wednesday and buses are replacing trains between Ashford International and Ramsgate via Canterbury West. When this happens, standard procedure is that we always run a train at caution – at slow speed – to see if there is any potential hazard. If nothing is found – which was the case last night at Chilham – then services are reverted to normal running.
“The incident at Chilham happened an hour and a half after the report that there was livestock on the track and services reverted back to normal only after checks were carried out and no livestock was found.”
He said the crash caused the train’s radio system to stop working, so the driver leapt from his cab to stop an approaching train. “He realised at this point his radio had stopped working so he jumped out of the cab and ran down the track to halt an approaching train.
He was then able to contact the signaller through the radio of this train to switch off the power to the line.”
The operator said the line would remain closed until at least Wednesday and buses were replacing trains between Ashford International and Ramsgate via Canterbury West.
Following the incident at #Chilham yesterday, we can confirm that the line will remain closed until at least Wednesday 29 July.Following the incident at #Chilham yesterday, we can confirm that the line will remain closed until at least Wednesday 29 July.
A spokesman for Network Rail said up to five cows had been killed, and confirmed they first received a report of livestock in the area at 8.50pm.A spokesman for Network Rail said up to five cows had been killed, and confirmed they first received a report of livestock in the area at 8.50pm.
“The sighting was investigated by Network Rail staff in the area, but no cows were found,” he said. “Two trains then passed through the area, with neither reporting any cattle on the line.”“The sighting was investigated by Network Rail staff in the area, but no cows were found,” he said. “Two trains then passed through the area, with neither reporting any cattle on the line.”