Bear Collision Causes Shinkansen Delays in Northeastern Japan

SENDAI (Kyodo) -- A bullet train collided with a bear on Saturday afternoon, resulting in delays for several services operating on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line in northeastern Japan, as reported by JR East. The incident caused significant disruption to the railway's schedule.

The train, which was traveling northward from Tokyo, came to an abrupt stop shortly after passing Sendai Station. The driver, upon observing an animal on the tracks and subsequently hearing an unusual noise, immediately applied the brakes. This action was taken to ensure the safety of the passengers and the train itself.

Following the train's halt, railway personnel conducted a search of the area near the tracks. The body of a bear was discovered in close proximity to the railway line, confirming the nature of the collision. The discovery prompted an immediate assessment of the situation.

Fortunately, despite the impact, no passengers aboard the train sustained any injuries. However, the incident necessitated a temporary suspension of train services between Sendai and Morioka stations. This suspension lasted for approximately 40 minutes, leading to delays for a total of five trains. The disruptions affected the travel plans of an estimated 2,300 passengers, highlighting the impact of the unexpected event on the railway's operations.