A serpent caused disruptions on the busiest train route in Japan.
Snakes on a Train: Japan's Shinkansen Goes Awesome-ly Wrong
Japan's iconic bullet train, the Shinkansen, ground to a halt recently, thanks to an unwelcome guest - a slippery snake. This info nugget was spilled by The Guardian.
Apparently, the slithery stowaway coiled around a power line, triggering a short circuit that halted the speedy trains. Despite the halt, the electricity in the carriages stayed on, ensuring the lights and air conditioning hummed along.
The timing of this slithering spectacle couldn't have been worse. It happened during Japan's "Golden Week" commencing on April 30. That's a string of holidays when lots of locals hit the road, vacationing or visiting relatives. This year Osaka was gearing up to host the Expo 2025, adding to the travel buzz.
On the opposite side of the globe, Germany's highway A63 was blocked by an escapee with a different set of problems - a pig. A driver alerted the cops about the porcine pitstop, but they initially shrugged it off as an April Fool's joke.
In another bizarre tale, a drunk fellow toppled off the Crimean Bridge, causing a backpack traffic jam.
When it comes to animal-related disruptions, these incidents may be few and far between, but they can certainly throw a spanner in the works, as we witnessed with Japan's Shinkansen. Generally speaking, these disruptive situations are often the work of birds or small critters. But what about Germany's highways? Well, animal collisions can happen there too, often involving larger animals like deer or wild boar. When such incidents occur, they can create significant chaos, potentially resulting in the unfortunate demise of the creature and potential vehicle damage.
To minimize such disruptions, both countries have embraced technology and smart infrastructure solutions. For instance, Japan has used tech to ward off wildlife away from tracks, though specifics are rather scarce. On the other hand, Germany relies on wildlife corridors and warning systems to reduce animal-vehicle collisions on their highways.
In summary, animal visitors on high-speed trains and highways can throw a wrench in the works, but smart technology and infrastructure solutions can help maintain operational harmony.
- The unwelcome guest on Japan's Shinkansen, a slippery snake, caused a halt in April, disrupting the public-transit transportation system during Japan's "Golden Week."
- Similarly, an escapee pig on Germany's highway A63 caused a blockage, showcasing how animal-related disruptions can affect the automotive industry.
- Japan has implemented technology to deter wildlife from the tracks to minimize such disruptions, while Germany uses wildlife corridors and warning systems on their highways.
- The Shinkansen incident, though unusual, underscores the potential impact of small animals on a major transportation system like the industry's symbol, the bullet train.
- On the contrary, larger animals such as deer or wild boar can cause significant chaos on Germany's highways due to potential accidents, highlighting the difference in disruptors between the two countries' transport infrastructures.
