Railway workers receive training to safely remove swans from tracks

By Imogen Howse via SWNS

Rail staff are being given special training - on how to remove pesky swans from the tracks.

Network Rail has partnered with the Swan Sanctuary so that its workers can learn how to get the birds out of harm's way quickly and safely.

Swans can become aggressive when approached, and, combined with much of the railways across Wessex being powered by electrified third rail, removing this protected species can be challenging.

Tom Desmond, Network Rail’s Wessex route operations director, said: “The railway tracks are for trains, not people and animals.

“Trains, when traveling at full speed, need the length of several football pitches to stop and, unlike cars, can’t swerve out of the way of obstacles.

“There are also invisible dangers such as the electrified third rail. Everybody loses when a person risks their lives on the railway.

“Our first priority is to ensure everyone gets home safe, every day, be it humans or animals.

“Swans are the most impactful animal trespassers for disrupting passenger services [on our route] and our partnership with the Swan Sanctuary provides our frontline teams with invaluable skills and training to tackle the challenge of quickly and safely removing our feathered friends from the railway.”

New figures released Tuesday reveal that animals trespassed 1,432 times in the 12 months to 31 March 2024.

Deer ranked in first place across the UK - causing almost 350 incidents out of a total 1,432.

Sheep weren't too far behind - with 177 incidents - while birds affected 172 train schedules, putting them in third place.

Cows were in fourth - with 156 trespasses, and swans came fifth - with 143 flying onto tracks.

Other culprits delaying journeys across the UK were dogs (135), cats (107), badgers (55), foxes (42), and pigs (38).

Meanwhile, some of the more unexpected railways visitors have included bees, mice, hedgehogs, and even a llama and a tortoise.

However, while animals trespassed 1,432 times over the year, humans took things to a new level - with more than 19,300 incidents.

This equates to one every half-an-hour - whereas all animals combined only trespassed on the tracks four times a day.

Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s operations chief, said: “Trespassing on the railway is a serious offence that causes delays to thousands of trains every year and can be very costly for people – causing death and life changing injuries due to the railways many hidden dangers.

“This summer, when we see trespass at its peak our message is clear whoever you are: child, adult, dog walker, holiday maker or beast – stay off the tracks.”

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