Runaway tortoise named Mr. T saved after wandering onto train tracks

By Adam Dutton

A runaway tortoise was saved after it wandered onto a busy railway line.

The pet, named Mr. T, was spotted clambering onto the train tracks at Bicester North Station, Oxon.

Passengers raised the alarm and rail staff rescued the tortoise on Tuesday (7/10) before feeding it lettuce and water in the station cafe.

Chiltern Railway posted pictures of the animal on social media, appealing for the owner to come forward.

Hours later the owner confirmed Mr. T had escaped from his nearby home before trespassing onto the train tracks.

Despite dicing with death, Mr. T was unharmed throughout his adventure and was returned home.

Giles Conway, Area Manager at Chiltern Railways, said: “I don’t think anyone could quite believe it when we were alerted by customers at the station that there was a tortoise on the tracks.

“I am grateful to our station staff who located the tortoise and worked with Network Rail to safely retrieve it from the tracks unharmed.”

Steve Gill, a mobile operations manager with Network Rail’s Central route who retrieved the tortoise, said: “In my 30 plus years on the railway, this is the first time I’ve ever had to save a tortoise.

“I’m glad we managed to get the pet safely away from the tracks and reunited with its owner.”