New technical measures to prevent animal collisions
The project is a cross-border effort by relevant authorities, companies and universities to find new technical solutions that reduce animal collisions on railways.
The project includes trials with mobile and with stationary scare systems.
We study how train drivers and thus train operators can avoid animal collisions by warning/scaring the animals that cannot leave the track in time.
2) Stationary wildlife warning
We are testing whether animals can be temporarily scared away from the track area at selected locations using sound and light signals that convey danger. Scare stations can be further developed to secure e.g. wildlife crossings, fence and tunnel openings.
Objective
The key objective of the project is to contribute to safer road and rail transportation in the Nordic countries with infrastructure that is well integrated into the landscape so that natural processes and important ecological services (such as animal movements in the landscape) can be maintained. The methods are based on diverting animals away from the infrastructure only when the risk of accidents is greatest. This will be achieved with selected acoustic (and possibly visual) signals that create a brief but controlled escape response in the animals just before the train passes. The method should be applicable where physical measures such as game fences or game passes are not possible or need to be supplemented.
Who are we?
The project is a cross-border initiative within the INTERREG priority area Innovative Environments where SLU, Enviroplanning AB, Ruralis and Nibio, together with relevant authorities (Swedish Transport Administration, Norwegian Railway Directorate, BaneNOR), train companies (SJ, Norske Tog) and technology developers, as well as other relevant actors, develop and test new technical solutions to prevent wildlife collisions on railways. There is great value in being able to work along the rail networks in both countries due to differences in topography, climate, fauna and also regulations.
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Testing scare trains to reduce the number of animal collisions on the Nordland Railway - NRK Nordland
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Human voice to reduce train-related wildlife accidents
TV4, 2024-11-28