Japanese bullet train driver leaves cockpit for toilet with vehicle running at 150km/h

The conductor, who was not licensed to drive the bullet train, was left in charge for three minutes as it rocketed at 93mph with 160 passengers on board

The operator has apologised for the incident and is considering taking punitive measures against the driver and conductor

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A security guard stands in front of a Shinkansen bullet train upon its arrival at Tokyo Station in April. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:17am, 21 May 2021Updated: 2:35am, 21 May 2021

A driver of a Shinkansen bullet train left the cockpit to use the bathroom while the train was running at 150km/h (93mph) with some 160 passengers on board in central Japan, Central Japan Railway Co. said Thursday.

The 36-year-old driver was out of the Hikari No 633 train’s cockpit for around three minutes after asking a conductor to take his place during his absence at around 8.15am on Sunday, with the train travelling between Atami station and Mishima station in Shizuoka Prefecture, said the operator known as JR Central.

The conductor, also 36, was not licensed to drive the bullet train.

According to the company, which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen Line connecting Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, it is the first instance of a driver on its bullet train line vacating the cockpit while running with passengers on board, though a similar case occurred in 2001 with a driver who was moving an out-of-service bullet train.

Passengers board a Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train at JR Nagoya Station on May 4. Photo: Kyodo

JR Central reported the incident to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, saying it was a violation of the ministry’s ordinance.