A RUNAWAY tortoise caused major train delays after escaping his owner and finding his way onto the rail lines.
Solomon was found ambling his way towards Bagshot, Surrey after escaping his home last Friday.
The slow-moving reptile wreaked havoc on the British public transport system, causing delays across four major services between Ascot in Berkshire and Bagshot in Surrey.
While services were slowed down and delayed, Solomon was reportedly found moving “at pace” towards his destination.
Solomon was eventually collected by engineers and put on a train with arrangements made for him to be dropped off at a vet in Staines.
However, his owner came forward and identified the “trespasser” as their pet and collected the runaway reptile.
The owner’s home was suggested to be beside the tracks with Solomon supposedly escaping through a gap in the fence and finding his way onto the rail lines.
The trespassing reptile was collected and taken home the same evening and was reportedly unharmed throughout the incident.
One image of Solomon’s journey shows the tortoise being hilariously removed from the lines and carried along a train platform by two engineers in bright orange uniforms.
Another snap shows Solomon posing with four members of Network Rail staff on a platform.
A third photo captured Solomon’s brief train journey, showing the reptile waiting patiently by the carriage doors.
The images were shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “On Friday, there was a trespasser of an unusual nature on the tracks at Ascot.
“An escaped tortoise called Solomon was moving ‘at pace’ (according to the incident report) towards Bagshot.”
The post received over 6,400 likes and more than 115 comments from social media users left howling at Solomon’s antics.
One user joked: “That must have been very stressful for the tortoise. He looks shellshocked.”
Another added: “Well done. That is such a lovely story. Tortoises are true wanderers.”
A third wrote: “I can just imagine the response to the announcement for the reason for delay being heard on the train.”
Another commented: “I don’t understand how this could have happened but I’m still glad Solomon is safe.”
A fifth replied: “Didn’t want to shell out for a ticket, obviously.”
Speaking on Monday a Network Rail spokesperson said: “We are sorry to any passengers who were disrupted during this incident.
“While we are delighted that this story has a happy ending and can reassure passengers that our ‘everyone home safe, every day’ ambitions extend to pets, we must remind everyone that the railway is dangerous.
“Trains need several football pitches to stop from full speed and there are less obvious dangers such as the, always on, electrified third rail.
“We also ask that our lineside neighbours ensure that their fencing is secure to prevent human, or animal incursions onto the track.”
