JAPAN (Metro Rail News): It was a scary incident for 340 passengers aboard Japan’s bullet train running at 280km/h when its door opened. The incident happened on Wednesday. The fastest train on Earth with a top speed of about 320km/h (200 mph).
Fortunately, none of the passengers were injured but were stuck in a tunnel for 15 minutes as the train’s operator made an emergency stop. Japanese media said the train traveled for about 4km (2.5 miles) with the door open as it slowed to a stop – but no-one was near the open door.
Several checks were then made on the Hayabusa number 46 bullet train and the East Japan Railway Company said a cleaner forgot to close the device which manually opens the doors. The train arrived in Tokyo around 19 minutes late sources said. The incident created a knock-on effect that caused delays for some 3,000 other passengers.
Following the incident, the national transport ministry asked the company to make sure the issue is not repeated, Japanese media said. Known as ‘shinkansen‘ these trains are much faster than conventional trains.