11 May 2026 – Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, together with Flox Intelligence, is conducting extensive field tests of AI technology that will identify and deter wildlife along the tracks. The tests show that the system has great potential to reduce the risk of collisions with wild animals, one of the most common causes of disruptions on Swedish railways.
“The tests so far have given us a better understanding of which species move near the tracks, how effective the existing wildlife fences are, and how the technology can contribute to both safer transport and new knowledge about wildlife along the railway”
Maria Signal Martebo Managing Director Alstom Sweden
“Our field tests show that AI has the potential to identify animals with high precision. By combining our expertise in wildlife deterrence with Alstom’s leadership in railway innovation, we create a solution that both protects animals and increases operational reliability,” says Sara Nozkova, CEO of Flox Intelligence, a startup that developed the technology.
“Having been given the opportunity to evaluate the system is a big step forward for both safety and sustainability in Swedish rail traffic. We were pleasantly surprised at how many animals we could observe from just a single train, on sections that had many collisions. By reducing train-wildlife collisions, we will protect passengers and wildlife while also addressing operational and societal costs associated with these incidents,” says Maria Signal Martebo, Managing Director Alstom Sweden.
The technology is based on AI-powered cameras that identify animals in real time and activate tailored audio signals to scare them off the tracks. In a first tests phase, the AI identified several species along the tracks, including moose, roe deer, fox, and wild boar. The second implementation phase started in April 2026 expanded to include the full system with both video detection and sound deterrence.
The tests have been carried out in collaboration with the regional train authority Tåg i Bergslagen and its operator VR on several railway lines in Sweden, such as Dalabanan, Bergslagsbanan, Godsstråket through Bergslagen and Bergslagenpendeln. Alstom holds a partnership agreement with Tåg i Bergslagen for the purpose of developing innovative technology and testing this AI system is part of that collaboration.
The project is funded with support from Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency and seen as an important step in Sweden’s and the European Union’s work to achieve safe and sustainable transport systems.
The system has identified not only large wild animals, but also smaller species and birds that had previously rarely been recorded in railway statistics.
“The tests so far have given us a better understanding of which species move near the tracks, how effective the existing wildlife fences are, and how the technology can contribute to both safer transport and new knowledge about wildlife along the railway”, says Maria Signal Martebo, Managing Director Alstom Sweden.
Each detection of an animal is categorised – a process that allows the AI to continuously improve its capabilities. During the tests, the system proved to be particularly accurate for farm animals and birds such as crows and pigeons, while the identification of moose and roe deer required more training to achieve the same level of accuracy.
Every year, around 5,000 animal collisions are reported in Sweden. In addition to causing suffering to animals, the accidents lead to delays, repair costs, emotional impact on train drivers and loss of production. By reducing these incidents, the project contributes to both increased punctuality, reduced impact on nature and a better working environment.
The Innovation Station in Stockholm opened in 2023 with the purpose of accelerating technological development and driving innovative solutions that have impactful applications in the transport sector. It serves as a hub for collaborations with leading start-ups and operators in the Nordics and has been instrumental in the joint work with Flox Intelligence.
Flox Intelligence is a Swedish deep-tech company that develops adaptive systems to minimise wildlife accidents and create safer, more sustainable transport systems. Using AI, bioacoustics, and behavioural science, Flox intelligence’ systems detect and deter wildlife in real-time along railroads, roads, and other critical infrastructure. The solution works as a digital herding dog that protects both people and animals and is currently used by actors in transport, the public sector and nature conservation in Europe and North America.
