Shipley to Leeds service sees passengers jumping around to avoid snake

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Shipley to Leeds service sees passengers jumping around the carriage to avoid stowaway hisser who wriggled onboard

  • The reptile, believed to be a corn snake, was seen slithering near the train door
  • Read: RSPCA snake warning as warm weather sees animals ‘escape a lot more’

Passengers have been left in shock after a snake was spotted on a train from Shipley to Leeds after wriggling onboard. 

The reptile, believed to be a corn snake, was seen slithering near the door and lifting its head up as if looking for an escape route.      

One bewildered commuter, Sophie Johnstone, wrote on Twitter: ‘Chaotic scenes on the Shipley to Leeds train. 

‘Snake moves. Carriage moves. OH LORD there is an actual SNAKE on this train.’ 

It comes just one month after the RSPCA issued a snake warning as warm weather has seen the reptiles become more active and ‘escape a lot more’.

Passengers were left in shock after a snake (pictured) was spotted on a train from Shipley to Leeds after wriggling onboard

The reptile, believed to be a corn snake, was seen slithering near the door and lifting its head up as if looking for an escape route

The charity announced that calls to its snake hotline have been at an all-time high – with the problem particularly bad in summer.

Evie Button, senior scientific officer at the RSPCA, told the Sunday Times: ‘The warmer they are, the more active they are so that’s why they escape a lot more in summer.’

The problem has been exacerbated by the rising number of snakes being kept as pets in the UK – with the figure up from 500,000 last year to 700,000 this year, according to UK Pet Food.

Corn snakes, pythons, and boa constrictors are three of the most popular species to keep as household pets. 

The creepy images from yesterday show the red and orange snake emerging from a hidden corner and spreading out across the train carpet. 

One bewildered commuter, Sophie Johnstone, wrote on Twitter: ‘OH LORD there is an actual SNAKE on this train’ 

Passengers jumped around the carriage to avoid the stowaway hisser who slithered along the train floor 

It comes just one month after the RSPCA issued a snake warning as warm weather has seen the reptiles become more active and ‘escape a lot more

Ms Johnstone’s tweet, which has received more than 1million views, sparked both repulsion and sympathy for the long-bodied creature. 

One person commented: ‘I would lock myself in the toilet…’ 

Another said: ‘Awww it’s so cute.’ 

A third wrote: ‘That’s a corn snake! I used to have a pet one. They’re perfectly harmless and will run away and hide to avoid all confrontation rather than attack (and they’re not venomous). 

‘They’re excellent escape artists and can squeeze through the tiniest gap, so can be easy to lose.’ 

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