A hen trespassing on practice tracks at Brighton station induced an hour and a half of rush-hour disruption on Tuesday.
ThamesLink was compelled to shut three platforms for about half an hour from 7pm whereas energy was switched off and the herring gull was eliminated.
Journeys affected included Brighton to London providers and the Gatwick Express, with complete disruptions lasting till about 8.20pm.
The rail operator posted on X concerning the delay and suggested travellers to permit an additional 20 minutes to finish journeys due to the presence of an ‘endangered species of hen (herring gull)’.
Several individuals replied to Thameslink asking if the publish was a late April Fools joke, and questioned whether or not herring gulls are literally endangered.
A gull (pictured) trespassing on practice tracks at Brighton station induced an hour and a half of rush-hour disruption on Tuesday
ThamesLink was compelled to shut three platforms for about half an hour from 7pm whereas energy was switched off and the herring gull was eliminated
Thameslink posted on X concerning the delay brought on by the ‘endangered species’
One traveller complained that ‘quite a few trains’ had been cancelled and operators had left them ‘stranded within the rain’.
Although some stated herring gulls are a typical sight on the seaside, the species has been on the Birds of Conservation Concern’s (BCC) pink listing since 2009 due to ongoing inhabitants decline.
The listing is compiled by the UK’s main hen conservation organisations, together with the RSPB, and identifies conservation priorities for birds.
Herring gulls’ pink listing standing means they’ve been recognized by the BCC as topic to ‘an rising stage of conservation concern’.
At 8.30pm Thameslink stated the hen was safely away from the railway and apologised for any inconvenience.
Staff stated the young hen ‘appears to be OK’ and was ‘being properly sorted’.
