Significant rail delays in Ireland after train strikes herd of cattle
News

Significant rail delays in Ireland after train strikes herd of cattle

RAIL services between Dublin and the west of Ireland are facing significant delays for the rest of the evening after a herd of cattle wandered on to the track.

The 3.35pm service from the capital to Galway struck the animals at around 4.35pm near Tullamore, Co. Offaly.

Several cows are reported to have died in the incident.

Iarnród Éireann said services to and from Galway and Westport will experience significant delays for the remainder of the evening.

The company sent a team by road to assist with removing the cows and to dispense water to the passengers stuck on the train, with temperatures in Ireland today exceeding 30° Celsius.

Passengers were transferred to a replacement train around two hours after the incident.

Those on the 4.30pm train were transferred to a replacement bus service at Portarlington, which took them to Athlone, where they continued their journey to Galway by train.

Passengers on later services in both directions are being transferred to buses at Athlone and Tullamore.

Check the Iarnród Éireann twitter account for latest updates.