Network Rail escorts 'trespasser' off train but people call for 'rebel' to be given ride
A 'trespasser of unusual nature' was pulled off a Network Rail train but members of the public called for the 'rebel' to be given a free ride
A "trespasser of an unusual nature" has been escorted off a Network Rail train – but people are now calling for the "rebel" to receive free travel.
An incident reported on Friday (July 19) saw an escaped tortoise named Solomon being hauled off the train at Ascot by two men in hi-vis jackets.
Network Rail Wessex has since confirmed the tortoise was removed from a train to Bagshot.
But X (formerly Twitter) users have since called for the animal to be given a free ride despite it moving "at pace" through one of the carriages, according to a post from the train operator.
The network confirmed: "On Friday (19 July), 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.
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"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." Solomon has since been collected by their owner.
While Network Rail teams acted efficiently in getting the tortoise home and apologised passengers on the journey, members of the public called for "rebel" Solomon to be given free travel.
One user joked: "That must have been very stressful for the tortoise. He looks shellshocked." Another added: "Probably got where he was going quicker if he’d had walked."
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A third wrote: "Oh come on, they couldn’t at least let him watch a race or two before sending him home? He must have shelled out an arm & a leg to get to Ascot (and set off the week before)!"
Others joked about Solomon dodging his rail fair, while some wrote "free Solomon". Another added: "Look at Solomon the rebel tortoise not paying his train fare." Another considered whether the owner should have a pet tortoise if the slow creature managed to escape, writing: "If your tortoise escaped I'm not sure you're ready to have a pet.
