TORONTO – A Toronto GO Train reserved an entire car for one unusual passenger Tuesday morning.
Passengers boarding the 7:15 Lakeshore West train at Union Station heard some strange squealing and discovered a large raccoon curled up under a seat.
Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said personnel opted not to remove the unpaid passenger at Union, since calling Toronto Animal Services would have caused a “significant delay.”
Instead, they isolated the single car, loaded passengers aboard the rest of the train and departed.
“So we decided to give him a free first-class ride to Aldershot, and off we went.”
GO staff called ahead and had Burlington Animal Services waiting when the train reached the end of the line.
The guest was removed without incident.
Aikins says their guest didn’t show signs of distemper or hostility, nor did he do any apparent damage or leave any “gifts” on the coach.
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Nonetheless, his private coach was removed from the train for a special cleaning.
The racoon is presumed to have boarded at Union, but Aikins said it’s difficult to confirm, given that they are “wily fellows.”
However, she said she can’t recall a raccoon rider during her time with GO.
Mayor John Tory took credit for the raccoon’s departure on Twitter, saying “I banished that raccoon. He knows why.” The account RaccoonNationTO responded that it “will soon repatriate our missing comrade. Guard your bin carefully.”
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