RAIL users endured two bouts of travel misery in less than 24 hours on the line running through Malvern and Ledbury.

On Tuesday evening, commuters found their journeys disrupted after points failed at Malvern Wells.

And the next morning, cows on the line led to delays of more than an hour for services including a London-bound express.

Tuesday’s incident began at about 3.30pm, when the fault made the line unusable between Malvern and Ledbury.

The disruption continued into one of the busiest times of the day, when hundreds of commuters, including schoolchildren, use the railway.

Engineers from Network Rail were sent to the scene, while train operator London Midland laid on buses to help commuters.

Services from Birmingham were being stopped at Worcester Shrub Hill, and services in the other direction had been cancelled.

Later, trains were allowed to proceed to Great Malvern.

London Midland spokesman Ged Burgess said four buses had initially been ordered, but this was later increased to six.

The buses ran a shuttle service between Malvern and Hereford, stopping at Colwall and Ledbury stations.

A train on the west side of the Malvern Hills was used to provide a service between Ledbury and Hereford.

Disorder returned on Wednesday morning after a herd of cows got on to the tracks near Ledbury.

The invasion caused delays of more than an hour to some services, with knock-on effects on the lines to London and Birmingham. The First Great Western Cathedrals Express was due to leave Great Malvern at 7.15am but left at 8.17am.

More than 120 commuters were waiting at Great Malvern and at least 100 at Malvern Link.

The train manager told travellers the herd had got on to the track through a fence which had been knocked down, and rail staff had not been able to locate the farmer who owned the animals.

The next two services from Great Malvern, the 7.39am and 8.05am, both for Birmingham, were between 30 and 40 minutes late.

Network Rail said the fault at the Malvern Wells points had been fully repaired by 10am on Wednesday.

Following the cattle incident, services were restored to normal at around 10.45am.

“Inspection found that the fences were being damaged by the cattle pushing them over,” said Network Rail spokesman Mavis Choong.

“These fences have been repaired.”

􀁥Meanwhile, West Worcestershire MP Harriet Baldwin said there should be dramatically improved services between Worcestershire and London as part of a shake-up of which rail firm will run services, The Government is currently asking passengers what they want from the new Great Western rail franchise, which will govern train services between Hereford and London Paddington.

The consultation, which runs until March, will help form the contract offered to rail operators who want to bid to run the franchise.

Mrs Baldwin said: “I am keen to reduce the number of people from the county who have to drive to Birmingham, Warwick or even Newport to get on a fast train to London by offering them a speedy reliable local alternative.

“I will continue to press the case at the department and in the House of Commons for a long-overdue 21st century train service for Worcestershire people”

Yobs not caught

YOBS who threw a heavy object at a moving train from a bridge in Malvern have not been caught.

British Transport Police spokesman Brian Price said no information had come forward as a result of an appeal following the incident, near Malvern Link Common at about 7pm on Saturday, December 3.

No arrests were made and the investigation has now been closed. The train, running from London Paddington to Hereford, was struck by what was thought to be a large brick or chunk of concrete. A carriage roof was dented, causing damage estimated at several thousand pounds, and the train was cancelled at Great Malvern.