Swans versus Avocet

[whole diary]

[johnneyw]

The swans are real but the Avocet^▸ (Branch line from Exeter to Exmouth) is the Avocet Line between Exeter and Exmouth......and it looked like the swans had won for a while.  A number of them had wandered onto the track at Topsham this morning causing some disruption.
It looks like things have now returned to normal.
Here's the link to Devon Live who scooped the drama!

Devon trains were stopped after swans wandered onto tracks - Devon Live https://share.google/ac4xEGFuo5YyzhSmM

[Oxonhutch]

I seem to recall that a swan is the size of trespasser where the delay problem (and repay responsibility) moves from the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) over to Network Rail, although I am not sure how line-side fences are supposed to keep a swan out of the railway reservation. Is it true that swans can only take off from water?

[stuving]

I seem to recall that a swan is the size of trespasser where the delay problem (and repay responsibility) moves from the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) over to Network Rail, although I am not sure how line-side fences are supposed to keep a swan out of the railway reservation. Is it true that swans can only take off from water?

While no doubt size matters, it's not the specific criterion. Delays are to be attributed to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) if the animal (including birds) is a risk to safety of the line. If not - presumably it's then a driver not wanting to harm a poor little birdie - that's left with the TOC (and to be discussed with the driver). There are two footnotes to that section of the DAPR^▸ (Delay Attribution Principles and Rules) (Q1.8.1), one of them specific to swans:

Note: Safety of the Line in this circumstance is deemed to be where the reporting person believes there is a potential risk to the safety of their train, other trains, any persons on those trains or the overall safe operation of the railway.

Note: Incursion incidents involving swans (not struck by a train) are to be coded to X8 given their protected status.

X8:   Animal Strike or incursion not within the control of Network Rail     EXT ANIMAL

So that's one of things things NR pay for though they are not held to be responsible.

[eightonedee]

Is it true that swans can only take off from water?

No, but it's far easier!

[Chris from Nailsea]

My understanding is that swans can take off from the ground (given enough open space, taking into consideration their wingspan), but they prefer to land on water, where they can use their webbed feet to some slowing effect.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Swan 'unscathed' after smashing into Berkshire train station roof

[Image from here is not available to guests]
Swan Support said they were "really lucky to have the fire service supports us on any rescues that we're unable to get"

A swan emerged "completely unscathed" after landing onto a train station roof, a wildlife charity has said.

Swan Support, who rescue and treat swans in the Thames Valley and beyond, said it had been called to Windsor & Eton Riverside Station, where the bird had made "quite the dramatic landing" and smashed the glass roof.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service went to help retrieve the bird as it was at a height out of reach and they then contacted Swan Support for assistance.

Wendy Hermon, the charity's operations director, said they were training with the fire service to help them learn how to handle swans safely.

The swan rescue service, which is based in Bray, has been operating for more than 10 years, with some staff having more than 30 years' experience.

Ms Hermon said: "It was late at night, [so] we decided to keep it overnight just to make sure that it was okay and then we released it into Windsor flock in the morning. It was really good because there's no way we would have been able to rescue the swan ourselves because it was so high on the glass roof, " she explained. "The fire service got up there, got the swan down and they were waiting with it next to the fire engine when we arrived, so it was a good result."

The firefighters told them it had broken the glass but Ms Hermon said the bird "didn't have any visible injuries". She added there had been "quite a few incidents" in the last month.

"They don't normally fly at night anyway but sometimes they miss where they're going, they run out of steam and they crash," she said. "A swan cannot fly off like a duck or a goose because ... [it] needs a 75 to 100-foot take off - it can't get off that roof without help. We're really lucky to have the fire service that supports us on any rescues that we're unable to get."