Police seek owner of urn with human ashes left on LNER train
The tiny red urn, wrapped in artificial flowers and held by a teddy bear, was handed into Aberdeen lost property after a Kings Cross to Aberdeen service and is being held by ScotRail.
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British Transport Police are actively searching for the person or family to whom a tiny red urn belongs. The urn, which appears to contain human ashes, was discovered on an LNER service that travelled from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen and was turned into the lost‑property office when the train arrived in Aberdeen.
Description of the lost item
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The container is small, red and shaped like a traditional urn. It is wrapped in artificial purple and white flowers and is held in the arms of a brown teddy bear toy. A golden ribbon is tied around the top of the urn. Police have described the item as having "enormous sentimental value" to its owner.
Police appeal and contact details
Police Constable Gary Herning told the Standard that the urn appears to contain human ashes or remains and will clearly be of great emotional importance to someone. He added that officers have no further information about where the owner boarded or alighted during the journey. The police have issued an appeal in the hope that the individual or family concerned will reach out.
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The urn appears to contain human ashes or remains and will clearly be of enormous sentimental value to someone.
Gary Herning, Police Constable, British Transport Police
Anyone who recognises the description or who knows the person who may have owned the urn should contact British Transport Police on 61016 and quote reference number 2600110174. The reference helps officers match the call to the specific lost‑property record.
ScotRail confirmed that the urn has been stored in its lost‑property facility at Aberdeen station for roughly four months. No further details about the previous owner have been disclosed. The police have not indicated any intention to move the item elsewhere until a claimant is identified.
What residents can do
If you or someone you know travelled on the London Kings Cross to Aberdeen service in the past four months and recall seeing a small red urn with a teddy bear, please get in touch with British Transport Police. Providing any detail, even if it seems minor, could help confirm ownership and allow the urn to be returned to the family.
The police have stated that once the rightful owner is verified, they will arrange a safe handover. Until then, the urn will remain in the secure lost‑property area at Aberdeen station.
Questions this report answers
+What does the urn look like and how was it found?
The urn is a small red container wrapped in purple and white artificial flowers and held by a brown teddy bear. It was found on an LNER train travelling from London Kings Cross to Aberdeen and was handed into lost property when the train arrived in Aberdeen.
+How can the owner or anyone with information get in touch?
British Transport Police ask anyone with information to call 61016 and quote reference number 2600110174. The reference links the call to the specific lost‑property record, allowing officers to verify the claimant and arrange a safe return.
+Where is the urn being stored and for how long?
ScotRail has kept the urn in its lost‑property facility at Aberdeen station for about four months. The item remains there until the rightful owner is identified and a handover can be organised.
+What will happen once the owner is identified?
Police have said they will arrange a safe handover of the urn to the verified owner or an authorised family member. Until that point, the urn stays in secure storage at Aberdeen station.
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