Badgers Cause Train Delays by Burrowing Under Tracks in the Netherlands

Badgers burrowing under rail tracks in the Netherlands have caused lengthy cancellations on at least two lines, with one line out of service for at least a week. Badgers are protected animals in the Netherlands, so rail operators have to get permission to move them or disturb their habitat before repairs can begin. ProRail, the company that maintains Dutch railroads, is appealing for a speeding up of the procedures to ensure the safety of train traffic.