In a slow-paced drama that unfolded on the railway lines between Ascot and Bagshot, a runaway tortoise named Solomon caused unexpected delays for commuters during Friday’s rush hour. The tortoise, which had escaped from its nearby home, was spotted by a South Western Railway driver just after 6 PM, triggering a unique rescue operation.
Network Rail Wessex quickly responded, with engineers safely removing Solomon from the tracks and placing him on the next train to Staines where arrangements had been made for him to be checked at a local vet. However, Solomon’s owner was able to reach Staines and collect the adventurous tortoise before he needed veterinary care.
The incident led to temporary disruptions across four lines, impacting evening services in and out of London. A spokesperson from Network Rail Wessex took to X, formerly Twitter, to recount the unusual event, noting that Solomon was moving “at pace” towards Bagshot.
“We are sorry to any passengers who were disrupted during this incident,” the spokesperson said, adding a lighthearted note about the tortoise’s shellebrity status. They also used the opportunity to remind everyone of the dangers of trespassing on railway tracks and the importance of securing property boundaries to prevent similar incidents.
Despite the potential dangers, the incident was resolved without harm to Solomon or significant delays to rail services. Rail officials confirmed that Solomon was unharmed and expressed relief over the safe conclusion to what could have been a far more serious incident.
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