An extra commuter was on board the 10.03am from Brighton to Lancing - and he didn't have a ticket.
The passenger sitting comfortably in the guard's van was not a stowaway or fare-dodger but a sorry seagull on a mercy dash to get treatment for a broken wing.
Staff at Brighton station had found the baby bird lying injured with a broken wing on a platform on Tuesday but were not sure what to do.
Station cleaner Dave Matthews made a few phone calls and soon had an offer of help from experienced bird rescuer Sylvia Peters. The only problem was she was in Lancing.
But working at a station has its perks and the seagull was tucked into a box just in time to catch the 10.03am service.
Mr Matthews said: "It was only a baby and looked like it had been kicked. We thought one extra passenger wouldn't hurt."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article