Swan on the track leads to suspended trains on £19 billion Elizabeth line
Services on a major section of London’s £19 billion Elizabeth line have been suspended because of a swan.
Passengers on board trains reported being told the bird was blocking part of the route.
Transport for London’s (TfL) website stated there are no services between Heathrow Airport in west London and Abbey Wood in south-east London – via the centre of the capital – due to “an obstruction on the track”.
It added that there are “severe delays” on the rest of the line.
National Rail Enquiries said there are “animals on the railway”.
Well that’s a new one - Elizabeth line closed due to “a swan on the track at Paddington” pic.twitter.com/YyROhg1can
— Rory Cellan-Jones (@ruskin147) June 29, 2023
On the Elizabeth Line heading from Reading to Liverpool Street an there’s a baby swan on the track causing delays. Driver says it’s due to cygnet failure.
— Joel Stokes (@joelygreengiant) June 29, 2023
Passengers reported being held on trains – which do not have toilets – for up to hour due to a swan on the tracks at Paddington.
One Twitter user wrote: “I have been trapped on the Elizabeth line for an hour because of a swan on the line.”
Another posted: “You are an absolute shambles @TfL. I cannot believe you closed the entire Elizabeth line for a swan on the tracks.
“Has nobody been on the shooing course. How hard is it to move a swan?”
The Elizabeth line stretches from Reading in Berkshire and Heathrow Airport to Shenfield in Essex and Abbey Wood.
It opened in May 2022 at an estimated cost of £18.9 billion.