Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 17 hrs ago
SNCF tests sound and light system to keep wildlife off railway tracks
Wild animals are increasingly colliding with trains in France, with such collisions up 60% in three years.
SNCF Réseau says trains hit animals an average of 15 times a day.
The rail infrastructure manager is testing Blue Sentinel, a system that uses sounds and lights to scare animals away shortly before trains pass.
On five kilometres of the Paris–Nantes line near Oudon in Loire-Atlantique, the system has cut collisions by 90% since it was installed in summer 2024.
The area is close to a Loire island used by wild boar and deer, which cross the tracks to reach fields and farms.
SNCF Réseau plans to install the system in five other regions, while also focusing on clearing vegetation where wild boar shelter.
The company that developed Blue Sentinel hopes to sell it to other countries facing similar railway risks.
SNCF Réseau is testing a sound and light system called Blue Sentinel to scare wildlife away from railway tracks before trains pass.
Since the devices were installed in summer 2024 near Oudon, collisions with trains at the test site have fallen by 90%.
The trial covers five kilometres of the Paris-Nantes line in Loire-Atlantique, where more than 150 trains pass each day.
SNCF says the system aims to prevent collisions, improve train safety and regularity, and protect biodiversity.
The company plans to deploy the system in five other regions, while also relying on preventive vegetation management.
- Who
- SNCF Réseau is testing Blue Sentinel, a system designed by French company ElanRail.
- What
- The system uses sound and light alerts to scare animals away from railway tracks before trains pass.
- When
- The devices were installed in summer 2024; the article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- On five kilometres of the Paris-Nantes line near Oudon, in Loire-Atlantique.
- Why
- To prevent train collisions with wildlife, support train safety and regularity, and protect biodiversity.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The system is designed to adapt to all types of species. It has a library of sounds, so-called evocative sounds: dogs, firearms, weather sounds; and we also have so-called non-evocative sounds, which are electronic sounds.
The aim is to avoid collisions and also to avoid killing animals. This solution is an avoidance solution, which allows us both to meet safety and regularity conditions and to preserve biodiversity.
Collisions between trains and wild animals increased by 60%, according to franceinfo.
Blue Sentinel devices were installed at the test site near Oudon.
Collisions at the test site had fallen by 90% since the devices were installed.
- System
- Blue Sentinel
- Test site
- Five kilometres of the Paris-Nantes line near Oudon, Loire-Atlantique
- Device spacing
- Every 50 metres
- Train traffic
- More than 150 trains pass the site each day
- Reported result
- Collisions at the site fell by 90% since installation in summer 2024
- Planned expansion
- SNCF Réseau plans to deploy the system in five other regions
Sources
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