A solar-powered ‘scarecrow’ has been installed at a Manchester train depot in an attempt to scare away birds that are disrupting train services.
The electronic device mimics the sound of a hawk and was created after Avanti West Coast and Network Rail noticed an increased number of birds frequenting the Alstom train depot on Kirkmanshulme Lane in Longsight.
Birds have been roosting on top of the overhead line equipment and stationary trains and, when flying on to the 25,000 volt electrical lines, their wingspan can cause cables to trip.
The birds have also been causing damage to the electric arms of Avanti West Coast’s Pendolino trains, which travel between Manchester and London Euston stations.
Not only can the damage cause delays to train services, but it has also seen an increase in the birds getting struck by trains.
Avanti West Coast said there had been 20 incidents across the North West involving birds on overhead wires or being struck by trains since December.
The incidents caused delays for passengers of more than nine hours.
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“We’re always exploring new initiatives to make our route resilient to various scenarios and customers’ journeys more reliable,” Nick Westcott, operations director at Avanti West Coast, said.
“Birds can delay our trains or cause damage to them and the overhead wires, so working with Network Rail to install an electronic scarecrow will help to deter birds from the railway – improving the reliability of our customers’ journeys between Manchester and London.”
The £2,000 ‘scarecrow’ was created by Network Rail’s Manchester Maintenance Delivery unit team and was installed after a successful trial phase.
Network Rail hailed the device as a ‘win-win’ for wildlife and the train service.
“As we start to welcome back passengers back on to North West railways, they want to know their services are reliable and on time,” Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said.
“Birds at Alstom’s depot have become a real nuisance but this solution is a win-win, protecting both the wildlife and the trains from harm.
“The electronic scarecrow is one of many methods we’re deploying across the North West to make our infrastructure more reliable, so we can deliver on-time train services that people of the North West can be proud of.”
