In an unusual incident on Wednesday, one of Japan's bustling bullet train lines, the Tokaido Shinkansen, faced a suspension after a snake became entangled in a power line, resulting in a power outage. The disruption affected trains running between Tokyo and Osaka, leaving many passengers stranded during Golden Week, an extremely busy holiday period in the country.
Snake Causes Disruption on Japan's Bullet Train Service
Snake Causes Disruption on Japan's Bullet Train Service
A snake entangling a power line forced suspension of Tokaido Shinkansen trains during peak holiday travel.
Services were halted starting at around 17:25 local time and resumed by 19:00, according to the Central Japan Railway Company. This week marks an especially hectic travel period, as Golden Week consists of four national holidays in just seven days, and the Osaka World Expo attracts millions of visitors until October.
The incident occurred on the section between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, leading to a stop of both Tokyo-bound and Osaka-bound trains. While officials worked to resolve the power issues, passengers were seen forming queues and waiting near ticket machines at various stations.
Satoshi Tagawa, a regular shinkansen traveler, was surprised by the incident, stating it was his first experience of train delays due to a power outage. In contrast, another passenger, 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, expressed frustration over the delays, wishing for timelier service.
This is not an isolated event, as a similar occurrence happened in April 2024, when a snake caused a 17-minute delay between Nagoya and Tokyo, illustrating the sometimes surprising challenges faced by Japan's famous rail services. The intersection of wildlife and technology continues to pose unique challenges, even in a country renowned for its punctual and efficient train system.
The incident occurred on the section between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, leading to a stop of both Tokyo-bound and Osaka-bound trains. While officials worked to resolve the power issues, passengers were seen forming queues and waiting near ticket machines at various stations.
Satoshi Tagawa, a regular shinkansen traveler, was surprised by the incident, stating it was his first experience of train delays due to a power outage. In contrast, another passenger, 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, expressed frustration over the delays, wishing for timelier service.
This is not an isolated event, as a similar occurrence happened in April 2024, when a snake caused a 17-minute delay between Nagoya and Tokyo, illustrating the sometimes surprising challenges faced by Japan's famous rail services. The intersection of wildlife and technology continues to pose unique challenges, even in a country renowned for its punctual and efficient train system.
