Swan on DLR track suspends Pudding Mill Lane services
Transport for London confirmed a trained rescue team safely removed the bird.
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Docklands Light Railway (DLR) services were suspended on Monday morning after a swan was found on the tracks at Pudding Mill Lane. The incident caused disruption during the busy rush hour period.
Wildlife incident response
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Transport for London (TfL) confirmed the suspension was necessary while staff attended to the wildlife incident. A trained swan rescue team was deployed to the scene. Helen Gregory, head of operations for the DLR at TfL, stated that the team safely rescued the swan and returned it to a suitable local habitat. TfL apologised for any disruption caused to customer journeys.
Animal-related rail incidents
Swans have previously caused similar disruptions. In September last year, services on the Mildmay line were halted for over an hour due to an injured swan on the track. Network Rail reported 1,432 animal-related incidents across its network in the year to March 2024, involving various animals including mice, hedgehogs, deer, and swans. On the Wessex route, swans were identified as the cause of the highest number of passenger delays.
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Questions this report answers
+Why were DLR services suspended on Monday?
DLR services were suspended on Monday morning because a swan was on the track at Pudding Mill Lane. Transport for London confirmed the line was halted while staff dealt with the wildlife incident.
+Was the swan rescued?
Yes, a trained swan rescue team was called to the scene. They safely rescued the swan and returned it to a suitable local habitat, according to Transport for London.
+How many animal-related incidents happen on the rail network?
In the year to March 2024, Network Rail recorded 1,432 animal-related incidents on its network. These incidents involved a variety of animals and caused delays to services.
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