Planetizen’s Friday Funny stories are often satirical, but this nutty story from Reuters is 100 percent genuine.

When the announcer said “all aboard” on the 8:54 a.m. service from Reading in southern England to Gatwick Airport last week, a wider range of local residents than likely intended took them at their word. “While pets such as dogs often take trains in Britain, rodents are a less frequent passenger,” a Reuters article said of the incident.
"We can confirm that the 0854 Reading to Gatwick was terminated at Redhill after a couple of squirrels boarded the train at Gomshall without tickets, breaching railway byeclaws," a spokesperson for the railway told Reuters. Railway staff was able to remove one of the “furry freeloaders” from the train at Redhill, but one refused to leave, forcing them to cancel the service and return the train to Reading, which was the second squirrel’s final destination.
FULL STORY: UK train cancelled after squirrel refuses to get off

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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