27.07.15
Southeastern rail services remain suspended after cow crash
Services between Ashford and Ramsgate via Canterbury West are likely to remain suspended today and tomorrow after a Southeastern train derailed upon colliding with cows yesterday (26 July).
The driver of the Class 375 Electrostar involved in the incident near Chilham station in Kent has been praised for averting a potentially more serious incident, having jumped out of his derailed cab and down the track to halt an approaching train. He then used the radio on that train to alert the signaller.
The train itself had to be removed from the track and is undergoing structural checks. Replacement buses have issued while the carriages and track are examined.
The leading front carriage became detached from the rail during the night-time collision and the carriage remained upright but leaning.
A spokesperson for the company said that Network Rail is on site today “investigating any damage that may have occurred to the infrastructure”.
He added: “Where possible, people should travel from Canterbury East where they can join a High Speed service at Faversham/Ashford at no extra cost. Passengers can also use tickets on reasonable London Underground routes to complete their journey.
“We would like to thank our driver who acted quickly after his train collided with the cows. 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 his train to switch off the power to the line.”
Southeastern’s managing director, David Statham, said the track, culverts and embankments had been damaged. Five cows are also reported to have been killed in the crash.
Mick Cash, general secretary of RMT, said: “This derailment in Kent due to cows on the track raises some serious questions about the maintenance of trackside fencing, and the impact of cuts on budgets, and the union will be following the investigation that is now underway very closely.”
Network Rail revealed it had received reports of stray cows at least an hour before the incident but service continued as normal.
Poster tsr on the railforums.co.uk said: “I hope all crew and passengers recover mentally from this incident, but it is excellent news to hear there were no physical injuries. It gives me a lot of faith in the Electrostar design, too. That said, I'm sure it's quite possible that if this had been a busy peak-time service, I suppose the natural sheer rise in numbers in the derailed carriage could have led to a higher chance that somebody was injured. It also sounds like the crew were in control of the situation throughout – well done to them.”