A tortoise caused delays for rush-hour train commuters after escaping from its home and trespassing onto tracks in Berkshire.
South Western Railway said a driver spotted the runaway reptile, named Solomon, crawling between Ascot station towards Bagshot just after 6pm on Friday.
Engineers picked up the tortoise and put it on the next passing service, with arrangements to drop it off at a vet in Staines.
Solomon’s freedom bid led to disruption across four lines in and out of London.
A Network Rail Wessex spokesman wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “On Friday (July 19), there was a trespasser of an unusual nature on the tracks at Ascot as an escaped tortoise called Solomon was moving ‘at pace’ (according to the incident report) towards Bagshot.
“Network Rail teams arranged for the next train heading into Ascot from Aldershot to stop shortly to allow the tortoise to be rescued, getting the shellebrity onto the train to bring it into the station.
“Arrangements had been made to drop off the tortoise at a vets in Staines, however the owner was able to come and collect Solomon.
“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.”
Rail bosses suggested the owner’s home is next to the rail track and that the tortoise may have got through a gap in their fence. They identified Solomon and collected him at around 8pm.
South Western Railway said they understood the tortoise “was unharmed” after the ordeal, and said it caused minimal disruption to services.
