On the 7th October, a runaway tortoise made its way onto the tracks at Bicester North Station.

Mr T or Mr Tortoise was successfully retrieved by Chiltern Railways and returned to its owner.

The tortoise was spotted by passengers who alerted staff at the station to the unlikely trespasser.

Chiltern and Network Rail worked to safely remove it, and it remained in the staff area where it received a snack and some water.

The tortoise was spotted soon and caused no disruption to services, and following an appeal online, it was reunited with its owner.

“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.” 

Giles Conway, Area Manager (Oxfordshire) at Chiltern Railways