Slowcomotive: Tortoise safely rescued from railway

• Avanti West Coast and Network Rail team up to rescue tortoise who brought railway to a crawl
• Slow-moving reptile spotted trespassing on tracks at Runcorn
• Swift actions of railway staff escort unexpected visitor to a place of shell-ter  

A tortoise who brought part of the West Coast Main Line to a crawl was given a place of shell-ter after wandering on the tracks at Runcorn.

The adventurous reptile, believed to be 50 years old, was spotted making slow and steady progress along the tracks by a customer waiting on the platform.

After the trespassing tortoise was reported, Avanti West Coast station staff worked with Network Rail to arrange a safe rescue. Trains travelling through Runcorn were temporarily paused while the tortoise was escorted away from danger.

Following the 10-minute rescue operation, train services resumed shortly afterwards.

The tortoise was taken to a local rescue centre, where it was cared for overnight before being reunited with its owner – a happy ending to a shell-shocking incident.  

Kathryn O’Brien, Customer Experience Director at Avanti West Coast, said: “After receiving reports of a slow-moving trespasser on the tracks, our team at Runcorn worked with Network Rail to carry out a safe rescue. Even our mascot, Turbo, came out of his shell to keep the unexpected visitor company on the journey to a local rescue centre.

“We’re proud of the team’s swift actions, which helped bring the tortoise to safety while keeping disruption to customers’ journeys to a minimum. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the tortoise has now been safely reunited with its owner. We’d also like to thank our customers for their patience while we assisted a trespasser who was in no hurry to pick up the pace.”

Ross Davies, Network Rail North West Network Operations Director, said: “While there was initial shell shock in our control room when we first got the call about a trespassing tortoise, there was nothing slow and steady with our response during our joint race with Avanti to make this highly unusual reptile rescue.

“Thankfully trains were only stopped for 10 minutes so passengers could hare it to their destinations, and it’s cracking to know this plucky pet is now safe and sound back with its owner after its brush with danger on the West Coast Main Line.”  

ENDS