Trains around Hackney Downs Station have been diverted due to a swan on the line.
Greater Anglia and Stansted Express services to Liverpool Street on 24 October were impacted by the bird, which was swanning around on the line between Tottenham Hale and Clapton.
Trains were disrupted between 11:39 and 12:41 before the line was eventually cleared, to the relief of frustrated travellers.
One passenger took to Twitter out of annoyance over the disruption. Chris Avila wrote, “Surely the swan will move if the train approaches it slowly? Or someone working on the train gives it a nudge in the right direction?”
“Or if it’s already dead then just move the ****** thing out of the way?”, he added.
I’m on that train & 3 trains have passed in the other direction?? Surely the swan will move if the train approaches it slowly? Or someone working on the train gives it a nudge in the right direction?
Or if it’s already dead then just move the bloody thing out of the way??— chris avila (@chefchrisavila) October 24, 2019
Swans have impacted services passing through Hackney Downs on many other occasions in the last two years. BBC London Travel reported “Severe delays on London Overground between Hackney Downs and Chingford due to swan on the line earlier at Clapton” on 4 April.
According to the London Wildlife Trust, the city is home to over 8,000 swans, many of whom who appear to have a vendetta against commuters from East Anglia and Essex.
Swans regularly disrupt train service at stations around the world. Pictured above, an incident in Zurich.
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Another bus bites the dust: commuters angry at TFL following loss of 48 bus route
