MLG TAXIING TO GATE WITH SIGNALMAN IS HIT BY BAGGAGE CART.

Narrative

AT THE END OF FLT WE WERE CLRED INTO GATE BY RAMP CTL. WE WERE BEING MARSHALLED INTO THE GATE BY A SIGNALMAN. AFTER CLRING THE R SIDE WITH THE FO; I CHKED THE AREA FOR PROPER CLRNC AND BEGAN TO TAXI IN ON THE TAXI LINE UNDER THE SIGNALMAN'S GUIDANCE. WE WERE WITHIN 3 FT OR LESS OF STOPPING AT THE JETWAY WHEN WE FELT A SLIGHT BUMP. THE SIGNALMAN GAVE US THE ENGS CUT SIGNAL. HE THEN HOOKED UP THE TOW BAR AND A TUG. HE THEN GOT ON THE INTERPHONE AND SAID A BAGGAGE CART HAD STRUCK US ON THE L SIDE AT THE LEADING EDGE OF THE WING NEAR THE END OF THE WING. THEY WOULD MOVE US BACK A LITTLE AND THEN FORWARD AGAIN TO THE JETWAY POS. I HAD SIGNALED THE PAX TO GET UP BY TURNING OFF THE SEAT BELT SIGN WHEN HE SAID TO CUT ENGS. I PUT THE SEAT BELT SIGN BACK ON; MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE CABIN AND WHEN I WAS TOLD THEY WERE ALL AGAIN SEATED; I TOLD THE MECHS TO MOVE THE ACFT. THEY MOVED US BACK A LITTLE (2 FT) AND BACK FORWARD INTO PROPER POS FOR THE JETWAY. THE JETWAY WAS BROUGHT INTO POS AND THE PAX DEPLANED WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE LEADING EDGE DEVICE WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. THE ENTIRE L SIDE WAS OUT OF MY SIGHT WHEN CONTACT OCCURRED AND I WAS CONCENTRATING ON THE SIGNALS I WAS RECEIVING TO TAXI INTO THE GATE.