Frequency of Railway Intrusions by Various Wildlife Species
In the past 12 months, British trains have seen an unexpected influx of visitors, with a diverse array of animals making their way onto the tracks. From deer and sheep to birds, swans, and even a tortoise, the list of animal trespassers is quite extensive.
According to the latest figures, deer were the most numerous, with 349 recorded incidents. Sheep were in second place, with 177 incursions, while birds, cows, swans, dogs, cats, badgers, foxes, bees, hedgehogs, a donkey, and the solitary tortoise also made appearances.
However, human beings were the most common animal trespassers, with a staggering 19,300 recorded instances.
To combat this issue, Network Rail has taken several steps. They have deployed a deer detection system on the East Coast Main line, which has successfully deterred over 6,000 deer since its rollout in May 2023. The system was installed at Welham Green and Hatfield on the East Coast Main Line.
In addition to this, Network Rail is inspecting fencing and collaborating with farmers who live near trains to prevent animals from straying onto the tracks. They are also considering installing wildlife crossings as a mitigation effort.
Network Rail has partnered with several animal charities, including the Swan Sanctuary, to address this issue. They have even released a list of the worst animal trespassers to help direct anger towards specific animals.
James Fisher, the Digital Commissioning Editor of the platform, resides in London. He writes about motoring, travel, and topics that provoke him. If you have a story submission for him, you can reach him via email.
It's important to note that the majority of the world's 200 chalkstreams are located in England. These freshwater habitats are the most biodiverse on the planet.
Network Rail is not only focused on deterring wildlife from the tracks, but also on mitigating future delays with a variety of methods, including AI.
As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how this situation evolves and how Network Rail continues to adapt to manage this unique challenge.
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