Cows on tracks disrupt UK’s busiest intercity rail line
7 reported
A herd of cows wandering onto the west coast mainline in Staffordshire caused train cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers on Tuesday, according to a single-source report from The Guardian. The cow incursion occurred shortly before 9am and was expected to affect services until 4pm. Trains between London and Manchester were among those cancelled, with disruptions affecting Avanti West Coast, Lumo, London Northwestern, and West Midlands services. Tickets were being accepted on certain alternative routes. Railway staff reportedly had difficulties contacting the farmer responsible for the animals to move them off the track. The incident occurred a day after the prime minister-apparent, Andy Burnham, announced plans for No 10 operations split between London and Manchester, following his own late arrival in Westminster last week on a delayed Avanti train in a separate, non-cow incident.
What’s reported
A herd of cows blocked the west coast mainline in Staffordshire for more than three hours.
The incursion occurred shortly before 9am on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
Trains between London and Manchester were among those cancelled.
Disruptions affected Avanti West Coast, Lumo, London Northwestern, and West Midlands services.
Tickets were accepted on certain alternative routes.
Railway staff had difficulties contacting the farmer responsible for the animals.
The incident happened a day after prime minister-apparent Andy Burnham announced plans for No 10 operations split between London and Manchester.
Key figures
Andy Burnham, prime minister-apparent
Sources: The Guardian
