The surprise of a “stowaway” snake brought a Japanese high-speed bullet train to a standstill on the Tokyo–Nagoya route yesterday. The discovery, made by a passenger, resulted in a 17-minute delay—a hold up that, while commonplace on all-too-many rail networks, must have seemed like havoc for the famously punctual service.
The snake was discovered lurking on a train traveling between Nagoya and Tokyo on Tuesday April 16, The Japan Times reported.
After attention was drawn to the unexpected passenger, it was removed from the train. However, it still caused a 17-minute delay to the commuter train, something virtually unheard of for Japan’s bullet trains. The delay was due to staff using a different train for the trip following the incident, the Times reported.
The average delay to trains across the entire network is 0.2 minutes.
It is not certain whether the reptile was venomous or presented any danger to fellow passengers. However a Central Japan Railway Company (CJRC) spokesperson told AFP that there was no panic or injuries.
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“It’s difficult to imagine wild snakes somehow climbing onto the train at one of the stations. We have rules against bringing snakes into the Shinkansen [bullet train],” the CJRC spokesperson told AFP in a statement.
As the weather warms, snakes will be emerging from their hiding places. These cold-blooded reptiles typically become more active with the warm weather, meaning they are more likely to crop up in unexpected places.
It is not uncommon for snakes to turn up in strange places in countries where they are native. This is because they often seek out shelter and hiding places in areas where they live in close proximity with humans and are sometimes choose houses as places to rest.
There are 47 different snake species living in Japan, but there are very few venomous ones. The mamushi and habu are the two main venomous species. The mamushi is a pit viper and the most venomous serpent in the country.
The venom is potent and can cause tissue damage, swelling and can even be fatal if it is not treated immediately. The hamu is also a pit viper, with a venomous bite that can cause destroy blood cells and tissues. If a bite from this species is severe, it can cause permanent tissue damage.
Despite these two species potentially being dangerous, bites are extremely rare. Snakes tend to only bite humans if they feel directly provoked or threatened.
Security is extensive on Japan’s railways, meaning out-of-the ordinary events rarely happen. Japanese trains are among the fastest in the world, with a high efficiency rate.
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Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.