A "stowaway" snake brought a Japanese high-speed bullet train to a standstill on the Nagoya-Tokyo route yesterday, with a delay of nearly 20 minutes on the famously punctual service.
The reptile was discovered by a passenger on Tuesday, April 16, The Japan Times reported, and caused a 17-minute delay to the commuter service—something virtually unheard of for Japan's bullet trains. The average delay to services across the entire network is 0.2 minutes.
The snake was removed from the carriage after being spotted, though staff switched the service to a different train following the incident, causing the delay, The Japan Times reported.
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.
"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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