Strong winds blew a large metal plate onto the overhead catenary of the Odakyu Odawara Line on Monday, halting rail service in Kanagawa Prefecture.

The incident disrupted a critical transit artery between Qinano and Odawara stations, forcing the railway to suspend operations during the morning commute to ensure passenger safety.

Odakyu Electric Railway said the metal plate, measuring approximately seven meters tall by six meters wide [1], was blown from outside the railway property. The debris landed on the catenary lines in the town of Matsuda [1].

Weather data indicated a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 26.1 meters per second [1] recorded at 05:23 JST. The plate was discovered shortly thereafter, around 05:30 JST [1].

The disruption affected a total of 135 trains in both directions [1]. According to company data, the incident impacted between 35,000 [2] and 35,300 passengers [1].

Railway crews worked to remove the debris and conduct necessary safety inspections of the overhead power lines. Service resumed on the affected section of the line at 11:55 JST [1].

Odakyu Electric Railway said the resumption followed the completion of the removal process and subsequent safety checks [1].

“The metal plate, measuring approximately seven meters tall by six meters wide, was blown from outside the railway property.”

This incident highlights the vulnerability of overhead electrification systems to wind-borne debris. Because catenary lines are highly sensitive to foreign objects, even a single piece of external debris can paralyze an entire corridor, demonstrating how localized weather events can create systemic delays for tens of thousands of commuters in high-density rail networks.