HSR Safety Break: Japanese Bullet train ran at 280 kmph with open door

Tokyo (Urban Transport News): In Japan, a major accident of bullet train was averted on Wednesday. Despite high speed and safety standards in Japanese Bullet train, the door of the globally popular Shinkansen train opened at a speed of 280 km per hour, threatening the lives of about 340 passengers traveling in it. However, due to the promptness of the security staff, this situation did not last long and the train driver was informed about the opening of the door at Sendai station itself.

Incident details

According to the East Japan Railway, a carriage door from Tokyo to Hayabusa train number-46 was opened before it left. When the train passed by Senzai station, a conductor saw the warning light in the carriage. He then reported the danger to the officers. The bullet train was stopped in a tunnel just ahead of Senzai. After thorough checking of the carriage and information of passengers, the train departed. Commenting on the incident, a spokesperson of East Japan Railway said,

The conductor checked the carriage and found that the door was completely open. Some 340 passengers were on board but no one was injured and the train resumed its journey after a check-up. The incident occurred after a janitor mistakenly left the carriage door unlocked so that they could manually open and close. We sincerely apologise for the incident.

Japan high speed trains safest in the world

Japanese Bullet train operator East Japan Railway has apologized to passengers for the incident. The administration has said that it will try to decide that such an incident will not happen again. Indeed, Japan's high-speed rail network is counted among the world's most punctual rail services. Apart from this, these trains are also said to be quite safe. Shinkansen's emergency stop system itself slows down the train, anticipating earthquake-like hazards.

India also plans to procure Shinkansen train

In June this year, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal has stated in Rajya Sabha that as many as 24 Shinkansen high-speed Bullet trains have been planned for procurement from Japanese companies through the tendering process for the upcoming Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project. The bullet trains are being developed on E5 Shinkansen technology of Japan.