Snow derails Japanese bullet train

JAPAN: A Japanese bullet train carrying about 130 passengers and crew derailed in heavy snow in northern Japan Saturday, although there were no reports of injuries, the rail operator said.

The first car of the “Komachi” No. 25 bullet train came off the rails on the Akita Shinkansen line in the city of Daisen, East Japan Railway Co. said, according to Kyodo news agency. The six-carriage train was travelling at a drastically reduced speed of around 20 kilometres per hour due to the snow, when a number of wheels skipped off the track.

On hearing an abnormal noise the driver performed an emergency stop. There were no reports of injuries or casualties following the derailing, just after 4:00 pm (0700 GMT).

AFP