Overground line suspended due to injured swan on the tracks

"The swan was trapped on Monday on the tracks over Chelsea Bridge with an injured wing. Mildmay line services were part suspended from 1.10pm to 2.30pm between Clapham Junction, one of London's busiest commuter stations, and Shepherd's Bush while Network Rail's mobile operations manager was tasked with catching the rogue swan. Following a successful rescue operation, the swan was coaxed off the tracks into a swan-rescue bag."

"Trains had to be suspended because unmarked mute swans', the UK's resident species, are protected in the UK. As a result, killing or injuring a swan can amount to criminal damage or a wildlife-related offence. Following the incident, the swan was being driven to the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton by a Network Rail employee, where it will be looked after and nursed through its injury. Last year animals trespassed on Network Rail 1,432 times, with creatures ranging from deer, to donkeys, mice, and even a hedgehog."

"To alleviate delays, network Rail partnered with the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton last year to provide front line railway workers with beak-spoke training on how to quickly and safely remove swans from the tracks and release them back into the wild. Tom Desmond, Network Rail's Wessex route operations director, said: Our first priority is to ensure everyone gets home safe, every day, be it humans or animals. Swans are the most impactful animal trespasser"

A swan was trapped on Monday on the tracks over Chelsea Bridge with an injured wing. Mildmay line services were partially suspended from 1.10pm to 2.30pm between Clapham Junction and Shepherd's Bush while Network Rail staff rescued the swan. Trains were suspended because mute swans are a protected resident species in the UK, and harming them can amount to criminal damage or a wildlife offence. The swan was driven to the Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton to be cared for and nursed through its injury. Network Rail records show 1,432 animal trespass incidents last year, with swans causing the most delays, and frontline staff received beak-spoke training to remove swans safely.

Read at www.standard.co.uk