Wrexham General - Newest train stabling point?

A man tried to take a pony for a train ride on May 14 on the 1902hrs Holyhead service at Wrexham General station.

Caught on CCTV

The bizarre spectacle was caught on the station CCTV system and staff had to tell the would be passenger that it was not possible, or indeed allowed to take such a large animal on a train.

Arriva Trains Wales

The Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) Guard would not let him - or the pony onto the train as neither appeared to have a ticket. The CCTV cameras then tracked the animal’s progress, led by its owner to the ticket office, where he tried to purchase two tickets from a self service ticket machine.

ATW later said that horses were not permitted on trains on safety grounds and The RSPCA later said it was concerned about the incident and was reviewing the CCTV images. Dogs and small animals are allowed on trains and apart from dogs, must be carried in a pet carrier no larger than 85 x 60 x 60cm.

Their Journey

The would be 6 legged travelling duo were requested to leave the station which they did. The same pair had also visited Wrexham’s Maelor Hospital accident and emergency unit where the man asked for the pony to be treated by a doctor. As at the station, they were asked to leave, (this time by security staff), which they did.

The RSPCA

The RSPCA said it was not a safe or acceptable manner in which to transport an equine and added, the pony could have been injured or could have caused injury to passengers. The RSPCA inspectorate is viewing the images which were released to the media.

Horse owners require passports to move their animals and should only be transported in a safe and secure environment.