Runaway train had hit two cows

A TRAIN in Normandy ran out of control and with no lights for 19km when its brakes failed after hitting two cows on the line.

The TER service was travelling on the Abancourt - Rouen line just before 8.00 yesterday morning when the incident occurred.

The driver and conductor were left shocked by the incident, said a Sud Rail union representative, however there were few passengers on board.

After the impact the train’s brakes failed to work and it was left to continue for 19km until it reached an incline and became slow enough for the driver to put blocks under the wheels to bring it to a halt.

Some members of staff are today exercising their ‘right to alert’ to dangers in the workplace, however train services should not be affected.

Sud Rail representative Xavier Guérout said staff did not want to put themselves or passengers in danger and wanted to alert people to the problem.

Photo: Flickr / Patrick Janicek