Japan bullet train driver puts feet up on the job

A shinkansen bullet train driver came under fire Thursday after an online photo emerged of him operating it with his feet up. Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) said the 29-year-old acknowledged that he operated the high speed train in that position for 10 seconds on Tuesday. (Image: NHK) “He told the company that he had tired feet,” a spokesman for the operator said, also telling AFP that there was never any danger to the 320 passengers aboard the train bound for Shin-Osaka from Tokyo. “Shinkansen are equipped with an automatic control system that manages speed and the distance between trains,” the spokesman said. JR Tokai, however, in a statement called the behavior “extremely inappropriate” and vowed a “strict” response, suggesting the driver would be punished. Source: Japan Times Image: NHK Share this:TweetEmail

September 9, 2016

A shinkansen bullet train driver came under fire Thursday after an online photo emerged of him operating it with his feet up.

Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) said the 29-year-old acknowledged that he operated the high speed train in that position for 10 seconds on Tuesday.

“He told the company that he had tired feet,” a spokesman for the operator said, also telling AFP that there was never any danger to the 320 passengers aboard the train bound for Shin-Osaka from Tokyo.

“Shinkansen are equipped with an automatic control system that manages speed and the distance between trains,” the spokesman said.

JR Tokai, however, in a statement called the behavior “extremely inappropriate” and vowed a “strict” response, suggesting the driver would be punished.