Swan on rail line leads to train cancellations

A swan wandered onto a railway line leading to the cancellation of some services.

Network Rail said the bird first made it onto the line near Hilsea in Hampshire, shortly before 09:00 GMT on Thursday.

It meant South Western Railway services through Hilsea were cancelled throughout the morning.

Having now been removed from the line, Network Rail said delays could continue until Thursday afternoon.

Having been made aware of the animal's presence on the line, Network Rail said: "Attempts were made to persuade the swan to vacate the track and, while this proved unsuccessful, our mobile operations manager was able to retrieve the bird and clear the line to allow normal running through the area."

A spokesperson apologised to passengers affected by the delays, and explained that swans were the "most impactful animal trespassers for disrupting passenger services".

Whilst repercussions of the disruption were ongoing, South Western Railway said its eligible ticket holders could use local buses.

A study last summer found that swans were the fifth most common animal trespassers on railway lines, behind deer, sheep, pigeons and cows.

Network Rail highlighted its partnership with the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, Surrey.

It said the connection saw rail teams trained to "tackle the challenge of quickly and safely removing our feathered friends from the railway".

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