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A chicken trespassing on practice tracks at Brighton station triggered 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, previously Twitter, in regards to the delay and suggested travellers to permit an additional 20 minutes to finish journeys due to the presence of an “endangered species of bird (herring gull)”.
Several individuals replied to Thameslink asking if the publish was a late April Fool joke, and questioning whether or not herring gulls are literally endangered.
One traveller complained that “numerous trains” had been cancelled and operators had left them “stranded in 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) crimson checklist since 2009 due to ongoing inhabitants decline.
The checklist is compiled by the UK’s main chicken conservation organisations, together with the RSPB, and identifies conservation priorities for birds.
Herring gulls’ crimson checklist standing means they’ve been recognized by the BCC as topic to “an increasing level of conservation concern”.
At 8.30pm Thameslink stated the chicken was safely away from the railway and apologised for any inconvenience.
Staff stated the young chicken “seems to be OK” and was “being well looked after”.
