CARMARTHEN train services have been disrupted by two freak incidents involving cows and a pensioner on a mobility scooter.
Both occurred within hours of each other.
At around 10pm on Sunday, the Arriva Trains Wales service from Cardiff carrying 15 passengers struck cattle on the line between Ferryside and Carmarthen.
This was followed on Monday at 1.45pm when an elderly man on a mobility scooter had a lucky escape as he tried to cross the line at Pwll Trap, St Clears.
The Arriva Trains Wales service from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven hit the mobility scooter at the level crossing — moments after the man was understood to have got up and fled for his life. A Carmarthen man who had been travelling from Cardiff on Sunday evening described seeing around 15 cows running alongside the train carriage moments before some were hit by the train.
He said: "It looked as if they had escaped from a field and around three cows were hit, which damaged the front of the train."
He said passengers remained calm but were stranded on the train for four hours, finally getting into the Carmarthen station shortly before 2am. A spokeswoman for Arriva confirmed the 8.15pm Cardiff to Milford Haven service struck a herd of cows.
Damage
She added: "There were no reports of passenger injuries among the 15 people on board and the train had not derailed although there was some damage."
On Monday, British Transport Police (BTP) received a report that a train had struck a mobility scooter at a level crossing on Ffynnongain Lane, Pwll Trap.
A spokesman said: "Officers attended the location and spoke with the owner of the scooter and the driver of the train.
"An investigation is under way into the cause of the collision and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has been notified."
