Commuters stuck on train floored when they spot unusual reason for delay

Getting to work can be a nightmare, particularly when you're travelling during rush hour. The last thing anyone needs is an unexpected hold-up when you're in a hurry.

While most bosses will tolerate the occasional reasonable excuse for being late - such as cancelled train services or particularly horrendous traffic - some delays sound so bizarre they almost seem hard to believe. One commuter has turned to social media to document the moment his DLR service in London came to an unexpected halt after an animal decided to make itself at home on the tracks. Taking to TikTok, user @twurleywurleydrawing posted footage from his journey when his service began slowing down without warning.

The person filming captured the scene through the front window of the DLR service, where a swan could be spotted strolling just metres ahead, completely unbothered by the large passenger train trailing behind.

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The driver could then be heard making an announcement to all travellers, stating: "We currently have a swan on the line, hence why I'm going so slow."

He then went on to say: "As soon as it's moved out the way, we should be on the move at normal speed."

The footage then pulled back slightly to reveal a member of staff positioned by the train's control panel, cautiously operating the vehicle to avoid injuring or hitting the swan.

The service was then heard sounding its horn in an attempt to encourage the swan to shift. While the TikTok user didn't reveal which day this surprising hold-up on the DLR took place, it's not unusual for swans to bring trains to a standstill across the UK.

During the 12 months leading up to March 2024, swans were responsible for the highest number of passenger disruptions throughout Network Rail Southern region's Wessex route.

The issue has become so widespread that railway workers are now receiving specialist training on how to safely remove swans from the tracks.

Numerous viewers flocked to the comments section of the TikTok video, utterly stunned by what they witnessed.

"Honestly when they announced this at bank on Monday I was like really?" one person wrote, while a second viewer said: "If you hadn't recorded it, I wouldn't have believed you."

Yet the swan wasn't the sole focus capturing viewers' attention, as some began questioning the train driver's position.

"Sombody please tell me coz now it's bugging me. Do train drivers stand up for the whole journey?" another person asked.

To this, another viewer went on to clarify: "No they're not. they have a build in chair at his back. he's just standing up to look at the duck."