LNER and Network Rail expands their innovative project to protect deer

Thursday, December 21, 2023

LNER and Network Rail proudly announce the expansion of an innovative project.

It steers deer away from the East Coast Main Line, protecting the animals and rail services.

Teams are working hard to make sure customer journeys run smoothly, with more than 400,000 bookings made with LNER so far over the Christmas and New Year period.

Unlike Santa’s reindeer, not all deer can fly so LNER and Network Rail have made it their mission to protect the animals in their natural habitat. It is reducing the effects of deer strikes on the railway this festive season and beyond.

The number of deer has increased significantly across the UK; doubling in some regions over the last 20 years, particularly during COVID lockdowns when many people stayed at home.

As the population continues to thrive, LNER’s Innovation Team partnered with Network Rail to develop an AI-powered Automated Deer Deterrent System (ADDS) – a first for the rail industry.

Following a successful trial, the system is being introduced into new areas along the route.

The ADDS rivals existing methods of deterring deer from railway tracks, which have previously relied on solutions such as deer whistles on top of trains, which have proven to be unreliable, and high fencing, which takes much longer to install than the ADDS and has proven costly.

LNER’s automated system boasts cutting-edge technology with intelligent sound and vision sensors that can not only detect deer movements, but also classify them when attempting to cross tracks.

When a deer is detected, a variety of audible and visual alarms are activated, deterring the animal with an AI camera monitoring its movement until it has been diverted to safety.

Since testing began in May, data from Network Rail has showed an average of 50 deer a week moving on, and only one deer collision has been recorded.

This is a significant reduction on the average of eight collisions across a comparable time period before the implementation of ADDS.

Given the strong results of the first phase of testing, LNER and Network Rail have identified further hotspots to deploy the system. Future activities will also look at ways of attracting deer to less risky locations, such as bridges or feeding stations, encouraging deer to roam protected in their natural habitat.

Danny Gonzalez, Chief Digital and Innovation Officer at LNER, said: “Whether our customers are heading home to see loved ones, visiting a Christmas market, or going to a festive catch-up with friends, travelling this Christmas should be stress free and safe for all – including deer. This new technology brings a novel approach to deterring deer away from train tracks, helping not only LNER, but also the many other train operators that travel along the same route.”

Jo Priestly, Route Engineer for Network Rail, said: “We’re really happy to have partnered with LNER on this trial, which will help to better protect deer from coming to harm on the railway, as well as reducing disruption and delays for passengers.

“The results from this trial have been very positive, and we look forward to rolling out this technology at further locations on the East Coast route.”

Charles Smith-Jones, Technical Advisor to the UK’s leading deer charity The British Deer Society, said: “There is little doubt that deer numbers have increased in many parts of the UK over recent years.  As a result, deer and humans are crossing paths even more frequently and, more than ever, it is crucial that we work to co-exist harmoniously.  Any project that takes us closer to this goal can only be applauded.  The early results of this new technology are highly encouraging, and we look forward to seeing it brought to yet more locations along train tracks.”

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