Train to London Gatwick cancelled after two squirrels run onboard and cause ‘pandemonium’
A train to London Gatwick was cancelled after two squirrels ran onboard and caused ‘pandemonium’.
The furry passengers boarded the 8.54am Great Western Railway train from Reading at Gomshall, in Surrey, on Saturday (September 14).
Their unexpected arrival led to the conductor ‘locking the doors’ to prevent the rodents from roaming down the carriages.
The rodent pair did manage to make it to the rear carriage – where they reportedly began attacking other passengers.
A source told The Sun newspaper: “It was complete pandemonium. The squirrels got into the rear carriage and attacked people.
“All the passengers ran off the train and got another carriage. The conductor then had to lock the doors to stop the squirrels moving up the train.
“We’ve all heard of the ‘leaves on the line’ excuse, but a squirrel attack is a new one.”
Great Western Railway said a member of Network Rail staff unsuccessfully tried to shoo the animals off the train at Redhill, and the service to Gatwick had to be terminated.
One squirrel ‘refused to leave’ the train and was returned to Reading in the train.
A spokesman for Great Wester Railway said: “We can confirm that the 08.54 Reading to Gatwick was terminated at Redhill after a couple of squirrels boarded the train at Gomshall without tickets, breaching railway byeclaws.
“We attempted to remove them at Redhill, but one refused to leave and was returned to Reading to bring an end to this nutty tail.”