Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen line, crucial for holiday travel between Tokyo and Osaka, faced an unexpected halt due to a snake entangled in a power line, causing trains to stop for over an hour. This disruption occurred during Golden Week, a peak travel time.
Snakes Disrupt Golden Week Travel as Japanese Bullet Trains Halt Operations
Snakes Disrupt Golden Week Travel as Japanese Bullet Trains Halt Operations
A peculiar incident involving a snake disrupts Japan's Tokaido Shinkansen service amidst the busy holiday season, affecting travel plans.
The snake-related power outage affected train services on Wednesday, with operations suspended around 17:25 local time. The Central Japan Railway Company announced that normal service resumed by approximately 19:00.
This incident took place between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, impacting both Tokyo and Osaka-bound trains. Passengers reported forming large queues at ticket machines as they awaited more information. A frequent Shinkansen rider, Satoshi Tagawa, noted that he'd never encountered such an issue before despite his regular travels. On the other hand, Kazutoshi Tachi expressed frustration over repeated service disruptions, urging the railway operator to maintain punctuality.
This is not the first instance of snakes interfering with bullet train operations. A similar situation occurred in April 2024, when a 16-inch snake caused a 17-minute delay on the same line. As Japan continues to celebrate its Golden Week and hosts the World Expo, incidents like these pose a unique challenge to an already crowded transportation system.
This incident took place between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, impacting both Tokyo and Osaka-bound trains. Passengers reported forming large queues at ticket machines as they awaited more information. A frequent Shinkansen rider, Satoshi Tagawa, noted that he'd never encountered such an issue before despite his regular travels. On the other hand, Kazutoshi Tachi expressed frustration over repeated service disruptions, urging the railway operator to maintain punctuality.
This is not the first instance of snakes interfering with bullet train operations. A similar situation occurred in April 2024, when a 16-inch snake caused a 17-minute delay on the same line. As Japan continues to celebrate its Golden Week and hosts the World Expo, incidents like these pose a unique challenge to an already crowded transportation system.
