It is one of the largest in Europe, producing enough electricity to power six million homes, supplying more than 7 per cent of the electricity, though the bi-product of powering the homes of the British is around 22 million tonnes of C02s according to The Independent. Most of the protesters - believed to be around 20 or 30 - were dressed in white overalls, with one prinked up like a yellow bird - a symbol of the struggle. The hijackers shovelled coal from the train onto the tracks and unfurled a huge yellow banner with the words ‘Leave It In The Ground’ (the name of their organisation) embazoned across it.

Ben Tennyson, a member of the group told assembling reporters: “We’ve stopped this train to prevent it delivering 1,000 tonnes of coal to be burned at Drax and then released into the atmosphere. If we’re serious about fighting climate change, we have to leave this dirty fuel in the ground and invest in clean, renewable energy sources instead.”

The train carrying coal cargo was halted in Rawcliffe, near Selby, by members waving a red flag, in what demonstrators called a “carefully rehearsed procedure”. The group then chained themselves to the train, awaiting the North Yorkshire Police, who seemed wholly unprepared for such an eventuality, though the fact it was Friday 13th was probably not lost on a lot of the officers. The police eventually detained all members of Leave It In The Ground present, though many were not apprehended until nightfall, with the West Yorkshire constabulary carrying out arrests under spotlight.

Superintendent Terry Nicholson of the British Transport Police said: “It’s been a lengthy operation but our priority has been the safety of the public and our officers. We have been dealing with the protesters in a safe and professional manner and we have been arresting people for obstructing the railway.”

Around thirty people are believed to have been taken into custody. The train remains where it was halted presently so that authorities can carry out an inspection.

A spokeswoman for Drax defended the powerstation, by suggesting it was only the largest emitter of C02s because of its size, which casual observers might think a little counterintuitive.

“We are the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the UK,” she said, “which means that for every unit of electricity we generate we emit less CO2 than any other coal-fired power station in the UK. It is simply our size that makes us the single largest source of CO2 emissions.

“We are investing £180m in reducing our emissions of CO2, through improving our thermal efficiency and co-firing renewable biomass materials. Together those two initiatives will reduce our carbon footprint by 15% or over three million tonnes.”