2 Squirrels Board 'Without Tickets', 1 Refuses to Leave; Train Cancelled in UK

Britain: A morning train service to Gatwick Airport in UK was cancelled after two squirrels boarded and one refused to leave, forcing passengers to vacate the train due to the animals' unpredictable and erratic behavior.

On Saturday, the Great Western Railway (GWR) train travelling from Reading to Gatwick saw an unexpected disruption when the squirrels hopped on board at Gomshall station, officials confirmed. According to a GWR spokesperson, the animals may have become distressed in the confined space of the train when they first boarded.

Squirrel Refuses to Get Off, Train Cancels

As the squirrels entered the rear carriage, some passengers moved to another part of the train. The train manager locked the affected area, but efforts to remove the animals at Redhill station were unsuccessful. One squirrel remained on the train, leading to the termination of the 08:54 BST service.

A GWR representative humorously said, "We can confirm that the 08:54 Reading to Gatwick service was terminated at Redhill after a pair of squirrels boarded without tickets." The squirrel that stayed behind was eventually returned to Reading.

This incident highlights the ongoing presence of wildlife in urban areas, with an estimated 2.7 million grey squirrels in the UK, according to the Woodland Trust.