Northern urges Manchester train passengers to stop feeding pigeons

The train operator says that the birds have been nesting at stations and causing damage due to their hazardous and corrosive droppings. Castleford and Bingley stations in West Yorkshire have also been affected. 

Northern has already tried a number of methods in several other stations to deter the pigeons. Last year, for example, plastic owls were installed in Morpeth station, Northumberland as part of a trial. In Driffield, East Yorkshire, a ‘fire gel’ was applied to the roof of the station. This appears as ultraviolet to the birds, who think that the roof is too hot to land on. Hawke noises were also played out of speakers. 

The most successful method so far have been nets and spikes that do not harm them but prevent them from nesting and perching, however some birds just move on to other parts of the station.

Matt Rice, Northern’s chief operating officer, said: “We know the vast majority of our customers do not want to be bothered by pigeons at our stations, so we have looked into several humane ways of keeping these stubborn birds away.

“We’re urging customers to help us deal with this pest problem by making sure they don’t feed any of the pigeons or leave food lying around.”