Passengers Discover Snake on Train 台鐵自強號列車上有蛇 緊急疏散旅客

A snake was found on Taiwan Railway's Tze-Chiang Limited Express from Miaoli to Hualien. 

A snake about one meter long climbed on the handrail of the train carriage, frightening passengers. The snake was discovered at 8:19 a.m. on the 18th on Taiwan Railway's Tze-Chiang Limited Express no. 272 from Miaoli to Hualien. 

It was found in the 12th train compartment after passing Ruifang Station. The snake was found climbing on the luggage rack and the train conductor was quickly notified.

Witness: “What was the situation when you found the snake? I found the snake while handing over the bag. Sorry, the train is about to leave the station.”

Taiwan Railways evacuated passengers to another carriage and notified the Yilan Fire Bureau. When the train stopped at Yilan Station, firefighters boarded the train to remove the snake. Firefighters confirmed the snake was a python and was not poisonous. The snake was immediately caught and placed in the cage. People suspected that it was a pet snake because it was not aggressive.

Wu Yu-hsuan, Deputy Captain, Yilan Fire Brigade: “This snake is probably a pet snake. Pythons are less aggressive.”

Hsu Min-chieh, Yilan Transportation Section, Taiwan Railway: “Snakes cannot be taken on trains. In fact, this is part of railway transportation rules. They should have been blocked at the train station.”

According to Article 46 of Taiwan Railway's Passenger Transport Contract, passengers are not allowed to bring snakes, birds, or aggressive pets on board. Otherwise, a fine of NT$1,500 to NT$7,500 can be imposed in accordance with the Railway Act. Taiwan Railway is currently still investigating where the snake came from. 

一條約1公尺長的蛇，攀爬在火車的車廂扶手上，讓民眾看了非常害怕，台鐵列272次苗栗往花蓮自強號，今上午8時19分行經瑞芳站時，在12車親子車廂內，被民眾發現一條蛇正攀爬在行李架上，緊急通報列車長。

台鐵緊急疏散該12車廂旅客，並通報宜蘭消防分隊，在列車停靠宜蘭站時，上車抓蛇，消防人員到場後，確認是條「球蚺」，沒有毒性，立刻用捕蛇手套徒手將蛇抓進籠子裡，結束一場虛驚。因為該蛇沒有什麼攻擊性，民眾懷疑應是受過飼養的寵物蛇。

宜蘭消防分隊小隊長吳宇軒表示：「這蛇類應該是寵物蛇類、蟒蛇類，所以牠比較沒有攻擊性。」

台鐵宜蘭運務段許民杰表示：「其實就是按照鐵路運送規則的部分，牠就是一律不能帶下（上）車，在進站應該就會阻擋下來。」

依照台鐵局旅客運送契約第46條，旅客是不能帶蛇上車，鳥類、猛獸也都不行，否則可以依《鐵路法》裁罰1500至7500元，目前台鐵還在查詢蛇類來源，如果確定是民眾帶上車的寵物蛇，並將依法開罰。