THE RSPCA says it remains uncertain how a snake came on-board a train in the Bradford district.

A five-foot-long corn snake, was spotted on a train between Skipton and Leeds on Saturday, July 22.

Passenger Sophie Johnstone spoke of what she saw including two women who stood on their seats as the snake went underneath. She posted on social media a photograph of the orange-coloured snake near the carriage’s door with the caption, "OH LORD there is an actual SNAKE on this train."

 

Northern has confirmed that the snake, described as harmless, was safely taken from the train when it arrived at Leeds station. The snake was then taken into the care of the RSPCA.

The snake was placed in a ventilated cardboard box by staff, before being collected by RSPCA animal rescue officer Katie Hetherington. 

Now named Noodles, the snake is doing well in the care of experts at Reptilia in Ossett, West Yorkshire, and will be rehomed if no owner comes forward.

It’s not known how Noodles came to be on the train, although the reptile was slightly underweight which could suggest the animal may have been out of its regular enclosure for some time.

Katie said: “The staff at the station were fantastic and had placed Noodles in a large cardboard box and they’d even put the heating on.

"Obviously coming face-to-face with a bright orange snake on a train would be an alarming sight for many people, but corn snakes like this one are completely harmless.

“We’re not really sure how and why the snake ended up on the train.

"It might have been abandoned or somehow escaped from captivity and slithered on board of its own accord, it really is a little bit of a mystery."

 

A spokesperson for Northern said: “At around 3.30pm on Saturday, July 22, the conductor on one of our Skipton to Leeds trains was alerted to what appeared to be a harmless corn snake in a carriage.

“The conductor’s priority was the safety of our customers and for the wellbeing of the snake. They ensured the area of the train was cleared, and were met at Leeds station by a team who safely took the snake off the train.

“The snake was later collected and is now in the care of the RSPCA.”