LTG Group, of which freight operator LTG Cargo is a part, is launching a year-long pilot project for an acoustic animal deterrent. It should help prevent collisions with wildlife on the railways, something that happens each year in Lithuania.
“Collisions with wild animals, especially large ones, have serious consequences for both nature and our operations. Therefore, we are constantly looking for solutions to make railways safe for everyone – both people and animals. These small whistles are a great example of how thoughtful technological solutions can contribute to this,” said Vytautas Bitinas, Technology Director of LTG Group.
The whistles are expected to help reduce environmental risks, contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, and reduce economic losses. Besides the environmental and ethical challenges, wildlife collisions also result in traffic disruptions and significant financial losses, such as the costs of rolling stock repairs and railway infrastructure maintenance or compensation for losses suffered by passengers.
Tried and tested
“Taking into account the experience of railway companies in foreign countries – Poland, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain and Hungary – it has been found that sound and visual deterrents can reduce the number of collisions with wild animals by as much as 85–93%”, says LTG. “Although it is currently impossible to completely eliminate the risk of collisions, it is expected to assess the effectiveness of the selected sound measure.”
The pilot project primarily uses the SIREN7 equipment, produced by a Hungarian manufacturer. This system has a proven track record, having been successfully tested on PKP Intercity trains in Poland. In Lithuania, 13 LTG Link trains are already equipped with SIREN7, and by autumn, 16 LTG Cargo mainline locomotives will also be integrated into the project.
Visual measures
An early test has come back with positive results: No negative effects were observed, and according to the drivers, wild animals react faster and move away from the tracks, according to LTG. The final results of the pilot project will be evaluated in the second half of 2026.
LTG also plans to test visual measures next year. Those include special animal-repellent reflectors installed along a dozen kilometres of tracks.