Snakes on a Train

A brief article in the Japan Times provides a cogent reminder of how even the most advanced nations can find unexpected vulnerabilities in their infrastructures. Last Saturday morning, a rat snake made its way into a railway transmission substation in Wakayama Prefecture. When the snake touched a live wire and was electrocuted, the short-circuit reportedly caused a power outage that resulted in the cancellation of 12 train runs and the stranding of about 350 passengers for a couple of hours.