A disobedient dog caused minor delays when it boarded a train, travelled one stop, disembarked, wandered on to the track and got run over at Richmond.

The mischievous mutt took it upon itself to board the train at Mortlake, without buying a ticket, and got off at North Sheen before wandering on to the track.

The train guard then lost sight of the dog, an Alsatian cross, before driving over it, but not harming it, as the service approached Richmond on Friday, November 2.

Hassard Stacpoole, a spokesman for South West Trains, said: “The guard saw it but then couldn’t find it and 20 minutes later it was seen walking up the track toward Richmond.”

The dog was rescued by a mobile operations manager from Network Rail and was not harmed, but about six services at Richmond were halted while the animal was retrieved.

Passengers saw trains from Richmond slightly delayed due to the knock-on effect from the incident, but services returned to normal before lunch time.

Mr Stacpoole said the dog had a lucky escape.

He said: “The dog has been retrieved and is alive and well and kicking. The railway is a very dangerous place. The third rail will kill you so it is a very lucky dog, I think Saint Francis was keeping an eye on him.

“Animals get killed on the railways just like on the roads. There have been residual delays because train had to stop to let the dog be retrieved.”

The dog, which was headed in the direction of St Margarets, was retrieved and handed over to the local dog warden.

Mr Stacpoole said : “It is a very unusual incident. We do get animals on the track, but I think this is the first time a dog has caused issues – certainly in London. Sometimes in the West Country we get cows and sheep on the track, but dogs tend to be less common.”

 

Did you see the dog? Call our newsdesk on 020 8744 4274.