Tuesday 28 Jul 2026
Canine caper: Network Rail helps reunite lost dog with owner
- Region & Route:
- Eastern
- | Eastern: East Coast
Pet owners are reminded of the importance of securing dogs when near the railway after a wayward pooch was safely recovered in the Hitchin area – thanks to the swift actions of Network Rail’s response team with the help of drone technology deployed by British Transport Police.
Maddie the curious cairn terrier strayed onto a railway embankment, prompting concerns for her safety. A drone was used to locate the four-legged friend in the thick undergrowth and Network Rail mobile operations manager Martin Mason was able to coax her out before she could reach the track on Tuesday 21 July.
By providing live aerial imagery and data, drones allow teams to monitor hard-to-reach areas and respond early to risks.
Alongside animals on the railway, drone technology is used across a range of incidents, enhancing the operational capability of the railway, including:
- Trespass deterrence – drones are fitted with special cameras with high quality zoom and thermal imaging to accelerate the process of finding people trespassing on the railway before they come to any harm. This also reduces the length of time trains are stopped in the area, minimising the impact on services.
- Lineside fires – infrared sensors can assess the temperature of overhead line equipment after lineside fires, helping teams determine quickly whether it is safe to restore power.
- Flooding – using drones can halve the inspection time at sites affected by flooding.
Martin Mason, mobile operations manager at Network Rail, said:
“We all recognise accidents can happen and dogs can sometimes slip their leads or become loose. While we’re delighted this story had a happy ending, animals on the railway can create significant safety risks and lead to potential train service disruption.
“We would encourage all pet owners to keep dogs secure when near the railway.”
Click here to read more about how drones are used on the railway.
Notes to Editors
This incident had no operational impact on railway services.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Gareth Dennison
Media relations manager, Eastern region
Network Rail
07561 874858
gareth.dennison@networkrail.co.uk
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