The Docklands Light Railway was suspended between Bow Church and Stratford on Monday morning after an animal – understood to be a swan – was found on the tracks at Pudding Mill Lane. The incident caused severe delays during the rush-hour commute as thousands of Londoners travelled into the city.
Severe delays and suspended service
Transport for London reported on its website: “Docklands Light Railway: Severe delays between Stratford and Canary Wharf while we remove an animal from the track at Pudding Mill Lane.” Social media reports claimed passengers were forced to leave the train, and the line was later suspended while TfL staff attended to the wildlife.
The birds have caused disruption on the rail network on several previous occasions. In September last year, the Mildmay line was suspended for over an hour while a railway employee coaxed an injured swan from the tracks.
Protected species and rail incidents
Unmarked “mute” swans, the UK’s resident species, are protected, and killing or injuring one can constitute criminal damage or a wildlife-related offence. In 2024, Network Rail announced plans to work with The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton to train rail workers on how to safely remove swans from tracks.
Swans are not the only animals to cause delays on the network. In the year to March 2024, Network Rail reported 1,432 incidents involving animals including donkeys, mice, hedgehogs, and deer. On the operator’s Wessex route, which includes routes from London Waterloo to Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset, Devon, and Wiltshire, swans were responsible for the largest number of passenger delays.
TfL has been contacted for comment.
