During the peak travel period of Golden Week, trains between Tokyo and Osaka were halted for nearly two hours due to a power outage caused by a snake.
Snake Disrupts Japanese Bullet Train Services During Busy Holiday Season
Snake Disrupts Japanese Bullet Train Services During Busy Holiday Season
A snake's entanglement in power lines caused delays in one of Japan's busiest train networks, affecting thousands of travelers.
One of Japan's primary bullet train networks came to a standstill after a snake became entwined in a power line, triggering a significant disruption in services. The incident took place on Wednesday around 17:25 local time, impacting operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo and Osaka, prompting a suspension of train services until around 19:00.
This delay occurred during Japan’s Golden Week—a time generally marked by high travel volumes due to multiple national holidays, drawing millions of tourists, both local and international, particularly as Osaka hosts the World Expo until October. The snake incident specifically affected the portion of the line between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, halting trains traveling to and from key destinations including Shin-Osaka and Nagoya.
While technicians worked on restoring power, travelers at the affected stations were seen gathering along with station staff, and long lines formed at ticket vending machines. Passengers expressed mixed reactions about the unusual delay, with frequent traveler Satoshi Tagawa mentioning, “I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage.” In contrast, another passenger, 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, expressed frustration at the recurring disruptions, insisting on the need for timely service.
This is not the first instance of wildlife halting shinkansen operations; a prior event in April 2024 saw a similar disruption last for 17 minutes while a snake was removed from the tracks between Nagoya and Tokyo.
This delay occurred during Japan’s Golden Week—a time generally marked by high travel volumes due to multiple national holidays, drawing millions of tourists, both local and international, particularly as Osaka hosts the World Expo until October. The snake incident specifically affected the portion of the line between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, halting trains traveling to and from key destinations including Shin-Osaka and Nagoya.
While technicians worked on restoring power, travelers at the affected stations were seen gathering along with station staff, and long lines formed at ticket vending machines. Passengers expressed mixed reactions about the unusual delay, with frequent traveler Satoshi Tagawa mentioning, “I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage.” In contrast, another passenger, 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, expressed frustration at the recurring disruptions, insisting on the need for timely service.
This is not the first instance of wildlife halting shinkansen operations; a prior event in April 2024 saw a similar disruption last for 17 minutes while a snake was removed from the tracks between Nagoya and Tokyo.
