Hongkonger misses train on China’s new high-speed rail link thanks to slow-talking reporter
Businessman left on platform after agreeing to be interviewed for live television broadcast of new service
A man who missed out on the chance to ride the very first high-speed train from Hunan province in central China to Hong Kong on Sunday because he was being interviewed for a live television broadcast says he has no regrets and does not blame the reporter who waylaid him.
Lin Zutao – as his name was given by Changsha TV, which conducted the interview – runs a food manufacturing company in Changsha, Hunan and was returning home to Hong Kong to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday with his family. He had bought a ticket for the G6113 Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link service, which was set to depart Changsha Nan Station at 7.45am.
Watch as businessman misses his bullet train
Lin’s troubles began when he was approached by a news reporter who was making a film about the new service from the platform. The journalist asked Lin if he would be prepared to be interviewed on camera, and he agreed.
However, the reporter took so long to deliver the piece that by the time it was over, the train was preparing to pull out and all the doors had closed.
As the moments ticked away, Lin could be heard asking the reporter if he could leave.