At its closest point, the Dyfi osprey nest is just 55 metres away from a main railway track.
On a daily basis probably, we get asked about the trains, the track and how they affect the lives of the ospreys. So, here are five of the most often asked questions all about ospreys and trains!
Monty and the 08:04 to Birmingham International
Monty. © MWT
It's the main East-West track (called the Cambrian Coast Line) that runs across mid Wales (in red below).
Some freight trains run at night time, but the majority of trains that we see are passenger carriers that run hourly to Birmingham International. The services are operated by Arriva Trains and they have two westerly destinations: Aberystwyth (south) and Pwllheli (north). There are usually four carriages that leave Birmingham and it takes just over two hours to reach Machynlleth where the train is split into two.
Both halves then continue to travel west for four miles until they reach Dyfi Junction which is 300m from the Dyfi osprey nest. One half continues south to Aberystwyth and the other half turns right and goes north to Pwllheli.
Monty. © MWT
Occasionally we see special charters like the Orient Express and other commissioned tours. They are usually pulled along by a yellow 'Class 97' locomotive which are generally used by Network Rail for signal testing works.
Special charter pulling into Dyfi Junction powered by a Class 97
When the Dyfi Osprey Project started, some of these charters were powered by steam trains, but these are not fitted with the latest communication and signalling systems of the newer trains, so we don't see the 'steamers' any longer.
No. Like most animals, ospreys don't associate a train as something organic, something that poses a threat.
Just like you'll find lapwings nesting on a runway's hard shoulder, or a blue tit in a traffic light casing or a peregrine in a church spire, nesting ospreys have habituated to the trains running past their nest so close. In fact, the trains have brought many advantages.
Quite often the train attendant will point out Monty and Glesni's nest to the passengers on the train as they pass, just 55m away. Passengers get the best and closest views of ospreys anywhere in the UK in a completely safe (and legal) way!
Train-spotting (or should that be bird-spotting?)
We also get all the electricity for the nest cameras from Network Rail and they donate this to us every year for free. Network Rail also donated the 800m of fibre-optic cable that connects the nest to the visitor centre so we can show four amazing HD camera views of the osprey nest to 35,000 visitors to DOP each year. It also allows us to have a Live Streaming facility, uninterrupted for six months every year.
It is also beneficial to the chicks each season to get accustomed to being raised next to a train track. When they return in two or three years time to start a family of their own, they will have imprinted on the views and sounds of the trains as something completely normal that is part of the environment. Ospreys are a recovering species in the UK and the more they get acclimatised to our semi-urban infrastructure, the better. This is why ospreys nest so close to humans in several parts of America for example.
The nearest train station is Machynlleth, around 4 miles away. You can get a bus or taxi from there. One day we would like to connect Cors Dyfi reserve with Dyfi Junction platform so that you can travel directly to DOP and just walk in - and get to see the ospreys from 55m away too on the train!
Most of this mid Wales track is single-track only. Just before Dyfi Junction station the track splits into two.
So, to avoid two trains facing each other on the same single track, often a train will wait on the second track to allow the inbound train to pass. Just like this...
© MWT
