French rail operator SNCF is trialling light and sound beacons on part of its track in Normandy to deter animals.
Called Blue Sentinel, the initiative launched in October in an bid to reduce the one in every 10 train delays in France caused by animal collisions.
“On the Rouen-Caen line, on the section crossing the Londe forest, nearly 50 collisions between trains and wildlife have been recorded since 2019,” said SNCF.
This is why it chose the area to test the system, “which has already produced promising results in the Pays de la Loire region”.
The Rouen to Caen route is used by around 30 trains every day, carrying both passengers and freight.
Some 90 solar-powered beacons have been installed at regular intervals along a 5.5km stretch of track.
Dead wild boar on tracksMike Mareen
They detect approaching trains and are activated 12 seconds before they arrive to deter any animals that may be on the tracks.
The beacons can be remotely controlled and individually replaced in case of damage.
The trial is costing SNCF €350,000, according to Le Parisien.The technology has already been tested for a year in Loire-Atlantique on 10km of track.
Initial tests showed light and sound beacons reduced the number of accidents by 90%, SNCF said. Depending on the feedback received, other deterrents may be installed on the Paris-Caen-Cherbourg line.
Partnership with hunters
In 2024, more than 2,500 animals were injured by trains, according to SNCF. Collisions caused €2.17million in damage, and over 302,000 “lost minutes” for the network.
That year alone there were 209 collisions between trains and animals in Normandy.
The hunters used drones equipped with thermal imaging technology to spot where the animals were most commonly crossing the tracks.
Species that SNCF is particularly worried about include wild boar, deer and animals that burrow, which could destabilise railway infrastructure.
Trains are not the only vehicles involved with wild animal collisions – more than 40,000 road collisions occur every year in France, upwards of 100 every day, according to the Fédération Départmentale des Chasseurs des Landes (FDC).
The FDC notes that these figures are likely underestimated as they concern only collisions reported to insurance companies or emergency services.
It advises drivers to always slow down in areas with ‘animal crossing’ signs, use full beams when possible, and keep an eye on the roadside.
In the case of an accident, it recommends not approaching the animal, and informing the police or gendarmerie, who can secure the area.
