Hamster lost on train: Northern lists strangest of its 32,600 itemss of lost property in last two years

The train operator said it has recorded more than 32,690 cases of lost property since July 2022 and the most common items to be left behind are phones and laptops.

Northern, which serves stations including Blackpool North and Preston, is now appealing to customers to check they have all their personal belongings with them before leaving the train.

Leeds and Manchester Piccadilly stations are lost property hotspots, but forgotten items are also regularly found at stations and on services across Northern’s network.

Some of the other belongings which have been left behind include a cupboard, crutches, an ironing board and a 10kg box of chicken breasts.

One customer left their bike of the train while they were still wearing a helmet and another contacted Northern to try and track down a plain white handkerchief.

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.

Alex Hornby, commercial and customer director, said: “We understand that losing something can be extremely stressful so we often remind customers to make sure they have all of their personal belongings before leaving the train.

"Unattended bags our trains and at our stations can also prompt security alerts which cause delays and disruption.

"When a passenger comes forward to report lost property our staff work hard to track down that item and reunite them – but it’s no mean feat."

For more information about what to do if you leave something behind on a Northern train, visit: northernrailway.co.uk/travel/lost-property.