ENVIRONMENTAL protesters ambushed a freight train as it carried coal to a Yorkshire power station in a "well planned and orchestrated operation", a jury was told today.
The group were taking part in a non-violent protest against the pollution caused by Drax power station near Selby, North Yorkshire, Leeds Crown Court was told.
Twenty-two defendants went on trial today charged with obstructing a railway engine in
June last year.
The court was told the train was stopped by two men, posing as Network Rail staff wearing orange jackets and hard hats, who managed to halt the train by holding up a red flag.
Moments later the train and a nearby bridge were scaled by the protesters wearing white paper boiler suits and carrying banners.
One was dressed in a canary bird fancy dress costume and carried a placard with the words 'How many warnings do we need? Signed the Canary'.
They had brought a number of shovels with them and some of them began to shovel coal from the hoppers on to the track below, the jury was told.
They also had a banner with the logo 'Leave it in the ground'.
Prosecuting, Richard Mansell QC, said: "Having stopped the train, all 29 effectively took occupation of the train and the bridge on which it had stopped to stage a protest against the pollution caused by the burning of coal at Drax power station
"They were prepared for a lengthy occupation of the train. They erected a tent and canopy over the two wagons to provide shelter.
"They had brought provisions and a number of them had cards in their possession giving instructions on what to do in the event of arrest."
The court was told 21 of the protesters had positioned themselves inside the front two coal hoppers and had locked themselves to each other with a combination of D locks and specially-adapted devices.
The remaining eight took occupation of the bridge structure, the jury heard.
Many had brought either dust masks or scarves to cover the lower part of their face to protect themselves from coal-dust inhalation, the court was told.
One demonstrator had brought some climbing equipment and constructed a hammock beneath the girders of the bridge.
The protest lasted 16 hours during which a "substantial" police operation had to be conducted in order remove the protesters.
Mr Mansell added: "As a result of the protesters' actions, the railway line was effectively closed to rail traffic for the whole of the day and a significant part of the following day.
"This caused the cancellation of and delays to numerous freight and passenger trains and consequent financial loss."
The court was told Network Rail had to clear the coal from the tracks and the clear-up cost more than £30,000.
The defendants are charged with obstructing a railway engine by making or showing an emergency stop signal to the driver of the EWS train, causing the driver to stop the train and occupy the train and bridge structure preventing the train from proceeding.
They deny the charges.
The jury was told the defendants, who are representing themselves, will "seek to play on your emotions and sympathies with their cause".
Mr Mansell added: "The Crown says that this is a misuse of the court process to continue the protest action which the 22 and seven others started when they boarded that train just over a year ago last summer."
The defendants are:
Theo Bard, 24, of Chepstow Villas, Notting Hill, LondonPaul Chatterton, 36, of Hartley Avenue, LeedsAmy Clancy, 24, of St Albans Avenue, Chiswick, LondonMelanie Evans, 25, of Elmfield Drive, Marple, Stockport, Greater ManchesterBrian Farelly, 32, of Vicarage Grove, LondonMatthew Fawcett, 34, of Rockdove Avenue, ManchesterGrainne Gannon, 26, of Vicarage Grove, LondonRobin Gillett, 23, of Granville Road, ManchesterLouise Hemmerman, 31, of Hartley Avenue, LeedsBryn Hoskins, 24, of Byfield, Isleworth, LondonKristina Jones, 22, of Hamilton Road, ManchesterJasmin Karalis, 25, of Cadogan Terrace, LondonPaul Morozzo, 42, of Chiserley Gardens, Hebden Bridge, West YorkshireEllen Potts, 33, of Leighton Crescent, LondonOliver Rodker, 40, of Hamilton Road, ManchesterBertie Russell, 24, of St Albans Avenue, ChiswickThomas Spencer, 23, of Hamilton Road, ManchesterJonathan Stevenson, 27, of Cadogan Terrace, LondonAlison Stratford, 26, of Princess May Road, LondonChristopher Ward, 38, of Annelsey Road, Newport Pagnell, BuckinghamshireElizabeth Whelan, 23, of Arlington Street, GlasgowFelix Wight, 26, of Chepstow Villas, LondonThe trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
The hearing continues.
