Strategies for Eliminating Wildlife Collisions on Railways - Preventing Rail Mishaps in the Wild: Methods and Strategies
Deutsche Bahn and Hesse's hunters collaborate on a pilot project to mitigate wildlife accidents on railway tracks. On Friday, preliminary findings from this joint initiative will be presented at a meeting on the ICE route connecting Frankfurt and Cologne, near Hünfelden in the Taunus region.
Installed along this route are networked wildlife warning systems, which transmit acoustic and optical signals before a train's approach. These systems aim to address the increase in wild accidents on railway tracks and their subsequent consequences, including animal suffering, emergency braking, prolonged inspections, and train delays.
In an effort to understand animal behavior, the project employs wildlife cameras to analyze animal activity near the tracks. Preliminary results show that a hotspot for accidents near Niedernhausen in the Taunus has been effectively mitigated, according to the state hunting association.
The measures to prevent wild accidents on railways can also include creating wildlife corridors or using barriers to guide animals safely over or under the tracks, as well as implementing surveillance systems, reducing train speeds in wildlife-prone areas, and community engagement with local experts or hunters. These approaches can provide valuable insights into wildlife behavior, ultimately aiding in the development of effective prevention strategies.
The presentations on Friday are anticipated to shed light on the specific measures undertaken by the joint project between Deutsche Bahn and Hesse's hunters to reduce wild accidents on railway tracks in the Taunus region.
The community policy being implemented in the joint project between Deutsche Bahn and Hesse's hunters includes strategies such as utilizing wildlife cameras and networked wildlife warning systems in the environmental context, with the aim of minimizing wildlife accidents on railway tracks. These measures are expected to have positive implications for both the industry, through reduced train delays and financial expenses, and the local ecosystem, by decreasing animal suffering and promoting a sustainable transportation system.
