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Dragonite-themed train derailed by boulder in Fukui Prefecture in Japan, no major injuries reported

In the early morning of March 2nd, a passenger train themed after Dragonite, which was traveling on the Katsuyama-Eiheiji Line in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, collided with a 2 meter wide boulder laying near the tracks. Fortunately, the two passengers on board the lead train car sustained no injuries, and the conductor suffered only a minor injury to his knee. The train was derailed with a broken window and damage to the exterior.

The two-car Dragonite train was stationed in Fukui Prefecture as a part of the Pokémon Local Acts program, which announced Dragonite as the Fukui Prefecture Ambassador Pokémon in late 2023 as a way to encourage tourism. Dragonite was selected as the Ambassador Pokémon due to the area’s numerous geographical features whose names are associated with dragons, such as the Kuzuryu River. Operation of the themed trains commenced in Summer of 2024.

The derailment occurred at 5:26 AM JST near Hijima Station as the train traveled between Katsuyama City and the city of Fukui, and as of 3 PM JST, service on the line was still disrupted. There is currently no word when service will resume, and the National Transportation Safety Board is scheduled to send an inspector to the scene in the evening of March 2nd.

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