Melbourne commuters were forced to do a double-take when an lovable four-legged passenger independently boarded a train en path to Flinders Street Station.
Storm the Labrador effortlessly made his way onto the 8.20am train departing Hoppers Crossing Station last weekend, with none human assistance.
Footage captured by closed-circuit television cameras installed on the station shows the lovable four-legged fare invader standing behind the yellow line before running as much as an open carriage door.
The pooch does a fast check of the train carriage before jumping onto the train, seconds before it takes off.
It’s understood Storm travelled on the Werribee Line – which covers parts of town’s southwestern suburbs – and remained on the train for about eight stops, in keeping with Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) Journey Planner map.
Upon arriving at Flinders Street Station in town, cameras caught a train driver guiding Storm off the train into the protected hands of one other PTV worker.
Using a skinny string as a leash, the pair walked Storm cautiously behind the platform’s yellow line, before phoning the Lost Dog’s Home in North Melbourne to assist reunite him together with his owners.
While waiting for the Lost Dog’s Home team to select Storm up, the four-legged passenger got to enjoy an exclusive behind the scene’s tour of Flinders Street Station where he got pats from everyone he met, before going for a walk along Southbank.
Fortunately, Storm’s journey to Melbourne’s CBD had a pleased ending after the rescue centre scanned his microchip which was used to assist vets get in contact together with his family.
It appears Storm’s trip to Melbourne’s bustling city has made him more appreciative of green grass and ball games back home within the suburbs, together with his owners sharing a temporary video of him lapping up the Melbourne sun.
Metro Trains Melbourne has since posted Storm’s journey to its Facebook page, sending Melburnians right into a spin with greater than 2600 people liking the post.
“He just needed an adventure of his own,” one person commented.
“That’s hilarious, but no less than he’s home together with his master. Very lucky dog,” one other said.
A 3rd joked: “Didn’t see him tap on – a superb coming his way”.
While Storm’s situation was a little bit unusual given his owner wasn’t accompanying him, pets are allowed on Melbourne’s train, tram and bus network provided their owners follow the principles.
Small animals are permitted as long as they’re in an appropriate animal container, whereas dog’s can board a train as long as they’re on a leash.
“In case you bring your dog on a train you could: clean up any mess your dog makes, ensure that your dog doesn’t sit on seats, or block aisles and doors, keep your dog under your control in any respect time (and) avoid travelling on weekdays between 7am and 9am or 4pm and 6pm,” the PTV website said.
Storm’s journey comes almost a month after Heidi the “fast little” Spoodle made headlines in Sydney for causing commuter chaos by running laps around town’s train tracks.
Footage showed the 10-year-old pooch run for greater than an hour as she accomplished two laps between Milsons Point and North Sydney Stations on the T1 North Shore line – even managing to cross over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The incident occurred during morning peak hour, with services delayed by as much as half-hour resulting from the lovable but troublesome ordeal.
She was later captured by staff and emergency services at Waverton Station, before being reunited together with her owner.
