Cow crash disrupts Midlands trains

The train was testing track near Warwick Parkway station

Rail services from Warwickshire to London have been disrupted after a train ploughed into a herd of cattle.

A track testing train, with 10 Railrack employees on board, hit the cows at 75mph at about 0835 BST.

The collision occurred at Bridge Lane, Budbrook, near Warwick Parkway station.

A Railtrack spokeswoman said no-one was hurt but seven cows were killed.

Services disrupted

The locomotive was damaged and suffered a brake fault because of the crash, but the train did not derail.

An inquiry will now be held into how the herd wandered onto a major train line, the spokeswoman said.

British Transport Police will also look into the incident.

Services were disrupted between Warwickshire and London until the line reopened at 1140 BST.

Operators affected included Chiltern Railways, Central Trains and EWS freight trains.

Buses shuttled passengers between affected stations.