In a surprising turn of events, a bullet train in Japan came to a sudden stop when a meter-long snake climbed a power pole and caused a short circuit, as reported by The Guardian.
The incident occurred between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima stations at around 5:25 pm, disrupting the Tokaido Shinkansen route that connects Tokyo and Osaka. Despite the outage lasting until after 7 pm, with passengers stuck on the train, the lights and air conditioning remained operational.
The Tokaido Shinkansen is a vital train line in Japan, connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, serving over 370 trains and 4.3 lakh passengers daily. With speeds reaching up to 285 km per hour, the journey from Tokyo to Osaka is completed in under 2.5 hours.
This incident took place during Japan’s Golden Week, a popular travel period for vacations. One passenger expressed their surprise, stating, “I use the Shinkansen regularly, but this is the first time I’ve experienced a suspension due to a power outage.”
Known for its safety and efficiency, the Tokaido Shinkansen has transported nearly 7 billion passengers since its inception. Operating with an outstanding safety record, punctuality, and no reported accidents or injuries, it remains a reliable mode of transportation in Japan.
While rare, incidents involving reptiles causing delays on the Shinkansen have occurred in the past. For instance, a snake found inside a carriage led to a brief delay, and a similar incident in 2009 caused an electricity outage, impacting train services between Tokyo and Fukushima.
