Japan bullet train driver left controls for high-speed toilet dash
Japan has a reputation for extreme punctuality. (File pic)
TOKYO: The driver of a speeding Japanese bullet train handed over the controls to an unqualified conductor so he could answer an urgent call … of nature, a rail operator has revealed.
The unfortunate driver’s toilet trip might have gone unnoticed, except for the fact that his train was subsequently one minute late, which prompted an investigation in a country famous for punctuality.
The driver confessed that he had left his post after experiencing abdominal pain, and turned over controls of the train with 160 passengers on board to a conductor so he could run to the toilet.
He was away for three minutes as the train ran at 150km an hour.
Bullet trains are tightly controlled by computerised central command systems, but human drivers are required to stay in place to deal with any unexpected situation, a spokesman told AFP.
They also need to manually brake or accelerate as necessary to ensure safety and keep trains on schedule.
The driver’s brief absence apparently resulted in the minute delay that flagged his secret to superiors.
Drivers who experience an emergency while operating a train are supposed to coordinate with the command centre to turn over the controls to a qualified conductor or stop on the tracks or at the nearest station.
In a news conference on Thursday, company executives apologised for the incident and said the red-faced driver would be dealt with “appropriately”.
The driver explained he “didn’t want to cause a delay by stopping the train”.
“I didn’t report it because it was embarrassing,” he added.
The unfortunate driver’s toilet trip might have gone unnoticed, except for the fact that his train was subsequently one minute late, which prompted an investigation in a country famous for punctuality.
The driver confessed that he had left his post after experiencing abdominal pain, and turned over controls of the train with 160 passengers on board to a conductor so he could run to the toilet.
He was away for three minutes as the train ran at 150km an hour.
Bullet trains are tightly controlled by computerised central command systems, but human drivers are required to stay in place to deal with any unexpected situation, a spokesman told AFP.
They also need to manually brake or accelerate as necessary to ensure safety and keep trains on schedule.
The driver’s brief absence apparently resulted in the minute delay that flagged his secret to superiors.
Drivers who experience an emergency while operating a train are supposed to coordinate with the command centre to turn over the controls to a qualified conductor or stop on the tracks or at the nearest station.
In a news conference on Thursday, company executives apologised for the incident and said the red-faced driver would be dealt with “appropriately”.
The driver explained he “didn’t want to cause a delay by stopping the train”.
“I didn’t report it because it was embarrassing,” he added.
ccp zombie not only observe punctuality, in fact much more efficient, hk transform to 1c1s 27 years earlier.
ReplyDeleteSo u fart lah!
DeleteBetter still, yr beloved katak-ised Formosa exhibits top-class 'efficiency' that the covered up covid rate blows its top from near zero to hundreds per day!
from zero to hundreds show no covered up, moreover backlog reported immediately after clarification, total test performed also reported after media questioned, twnese bombarded dpp n tsai 24/7. what zombie worldwide did except diam diam n buka bazaar?
DeleteStill want to propagate yr f*cked lie that everyone knew!
DeleteBetter tell that useless Chen Shih-chung to rehearse for no syndrome no test gimmicks lah even though it's too late now.
But mfer, like u, can still go to trumpet the fake news to the world!
Japan's World Class Bullet Trains have been built at the expense of "No Mercy" discipline.
ReplyDeletenot just Bullet Trains but ingrained in the Japs' DNA
Delete