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Tortoise causes train delays after slowly climbing on to tracks between Ascot and Bagshot (news.sky.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A tortoise miraculously managed to escape its home and climb on to train tracks, sparking delays for commuters.

After a global IT outage caused havoc for many trying to travel on Britain's trains on Friday morning, more delays were reported between Ascot and Bagshot later that evening.

South Western Railway told Sky News a train driver spotted the culprit - a tortoise named Solomon - on the track near Ascot station just after 6pm.

The reptile was moving "at pace" towards Bagshot, they jokingly added.

Engineers carried Solomon off the tracks - and staff "moved the tortoise to a position of safety on the platform at Ascot, which included a short ride on the train itself".

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

The tortoise has been sentenced to 5 years in prison

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This is the most UK thing to happen lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I'm sure "tortoise mistaken for Cornish pasty and served up with child and baked beans" would be the most UK thing to happen, but until then...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Quick search the train.

There is a Hare hiding on it sleeping.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:

A tortoise miraculously managed to escape its home and climb on to train tracks, sparking delays for commuters.

After a global IT outage caused havoc for many trying to travel on Britain's trains on Friday morning, more delays were reported between Ascot and Bagshot later that evening.

South Western Railway told Sky News a train driver spotted the culprit - a tortoise named Solomon - on the track near Ascot station just after 6pm.

Engineers carried Solomon off the tracks - and staff "moved the tortoise to a position of safety on the platform at Ascot, which included a short ride on the train itself".

While staff had planned to leave the reptile with a vet in Staines, the tortoise's owner identified Solomon and collected him at around 8pm.

Network Rail added on X: "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.

The original article contains 270 words, the summary contains 169 words. Saved 37%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago

Still moves faster than a southern rail service