Rail staff are being taught how to remove swans from tracks.

Network Rail has partnered with the Swan Sanctuary to train its workers to quickly get the birds out of harm’s way.

Swans can become aggressive when approached, and this can be made more challenging by the electrified third rail powering much of the railways across the Wessex region.

Tom Desmond, Network Rail’s Wessex route operations director, said: “Trains, when travelling at full speed, need the length of several football pitches to stop and can’t swerve out of the way of obstacles.

“Swans are the most impactful animal trespassers for disrupting passenger services [on our route] and our partnership with the Swan Sanctuary provides our frontline teams with invaluable skills and training to tackle the challenge of quickly and safely removing our feathered friends from the railway.”

Animals trespassed 1,432 times in the 12 months to 31 March 2024, figures reveal today.

Deer were in first place across the UK – causing almost 350 incidents.

Sheep were next, with 177, and birds were in third place, affecting 172 train schedules.

Cows were in fourth place with 156 trespasses, and swans came fifth with 143 flying on to tracks.

But humans are worst, with over 19,300 incidents. Network Rail’s Helen Hamlin said: “Whoever you are, child, adult, dog walker, holidaymaker or beast, stay off the tracks.”