Network Rail have compensated a West Highland farmer following a long-running row over liability after a train struck and killed a cow last summer.
The incident took place on 27 July 2016, near Plockton, when the animal made its way from the common grazing land at Strathie onto the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line because of poorly maintained fences alongside the track.
After months of correspondence with Network Rail refusing liability, local farmers Duncan and John MacLennan have now received full compensation for the cow – which had been independently valued at £2,450.
Previously, Network Rail said the cow had strayed from its original field and issued a statement saying they invest 'significant sums' renewing fencing along tracks every year.
But Mr MacLennan told The Press and Journal that he has been 'messed about'.
"They ignore letters, phone calls, emails, everything."
'Delighted'
Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch helped the farmers with the case.
She called on the rail organisation to expedite repairs on line-side fencing to avoid similar incidents in future.
Kate Forbes MSP said: “I cannot describe how delighted I was when, after months of discussion, debate and correspondence, I finally got confirmation from Network Rail that they would compensate Mr MacLennan for the loss of his cow on the railway line near Plockton.
“I refused to give up because the cow had been valued at almost £2,500 and any farmer knows the financial impact of losing livestock.
“It was doubly frustrating because it was due to poor maintenance of fencing along the railway line that had allowed the cow to be on the tracks.
“Common grazings are natural in crofting communities, and so animals can wander far and wide. It’s therefore vital that Network Rail maintains fencing right along the tracks.
“Too many farmers lose livestock through absolutely no fault of their own and that hits their finances hard at a time when most are already struggling to make ends meet and make a profit.”
Animal strike incidents
The latest available figures from the RSSB (Rail Safety and Standards Board) showed that in 2012/13 there were 93 “animal strike incidents” in Scotland.
According to Network Rail, the associated cost of animal on the line incidents across the UK that year was around £4.9 million.
The most recent fatal animal strike incident occurred at Polmont back in 1984, when 13 people died and 14 suffered major injuries after an Edinburgh to Glasgow train struck a cow whilst travelling at 85mph.
