Japan bullet train driver disciplined for leaving controls to go to toilet

A conductor, who was not qualified to drive the train, sat in the driver’s seat during his three-minute absence, in breach of the rules

A driver on one of Japan’s shinkansen bullet trains is facing disciplinary measures after he abandoned his cab to go to the toilet while the train was carrying passengers and travelling at 150km/h.

The 36-year-old driver, who has not been named, reportedly had a stomachache and asked a conductor to take his place while he went to the toilet.

The conductor, who was not qualified to drive the Hikari-series train, sat in the driver’s seat during his three-minute absence, but did not touch the controls, according to the Kyodo news agency.

The incident happened last weekend as the train carried 160 passengers at high speed along the busy Tokaido line, which links Tokyo and Osaka.

Source:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/21/japan-bullet-train-driver-disciplined-for-leaving-controls-to-go-to-toilet

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