A pet owner will recover her dog's ashes after they remained unclaimed in ScotRail's lost property department for several months following an accidental loss aboard a passenger train.
The woman left behind an urn containing her pet's remains while disembarking from a London North Eastern Railway service at Edinburgh in May. The urn, which had been cradled within the arms of a childhood teddy bear, continued northward on the train to Aberdeen, where station staff placed it into lost property.
How did authorities locate the owner?
British Transport Police launched a public appeal after discovering the urn, initially concerned it might contain human remains. The force released photographs of the distinctive vessel on social media earlier this month, showing a small red urn decorated with artificial purple and white flowers and secured with golden ribbon around its lid. The appeal prompted the woman to come forward and clarify that the urn held her family pet's ashes rather than those of a person.
What happens next?
Officers are now arranging for the return of both the urn and the teddy bear, which holds particular sentimental value as the woman has possessed it since childhood. A British Transport Police spokesperson expressed gratitude for the public's assistance, stating:
"We would like to thank everyone for sharing our appeal"
The woman had travelled from London Kings Cross station before boarding the service that would take her to Edinburgh, where she accidentally left the urn behind upon arrival.
