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Train stops 30 meters short of platform after driver dozes off

12 Comments

A train on the JR Sobu Line stopped about 30 meters short of the platform at Tsudanuma Station in Chiba Prefecture after the driver dozed off, JR officials said Sunday.

According to JR East, the incident occurred at around 3 p.m. Saturday. Fuji TV reported that the rapid train was bound for Chiba Station from Zushi. JR officials spoke with the driver, a man in his 50s, and said he told them he “was overcome by drowsiness and momentarily fell asleep at the controls while using the brake.”

Although the mistake caused an 8-minute delay on the Sobu Line, there were no injuries reported among the 650 passengers on the train.

Meanwhile, local media reported that same train driver was diagnosed with sleep apnea by a doctor in 2016 and continued working for JR East on the condition he would continue treatment for the disorder.

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12 Comments
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I hear we don't use automated trains because manned trains are safer.

As the population grows older and older (more and more sleepy), is it actually safer?

6 ( +8 / -2 )

seriously? train driver with sleep apnea? wouldnt it make more sense to move the guy to a desk job?

12 ( +13 / -1 )

No injuries so don't go too hard on the guy, but this could quite easily have turned into a disaster in other circumstances. The public needs reassurance that trains are 100% safe to ride so JR should take some preventative measures

7 ( +7 / -0 )

When I went to Canada, the trains were mostly unmanned.  This might not be a bad idea. Unman some trains so that the drivers don't get overworked.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Sleep apnea in some one doing his job with the lives of the passengers in his hands is unacceptable. The manager who allowed him to continue should be held accountable, his failure has endangered the lives of all the passengers who rode on a train driven by this man. No injuries this time! next time could be very different.

When he was diagnosed he should have been moved to another job where his condition could not endanger others.

A serious failing of both the manager and the safety management culture!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

No injuries so don't go too hard on the guy, but this could quite easily have turned into a disaster in other circumstances.

If there was a co-driver with him then it would be ok but our lives are in the hands of a train driver so he has to be at the top of his game whenever he is behind the controls.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Dcog9065

"no injuries so don't go hard on the man"

Dude the guy is a TRAIN DRIVER! He fell asleep and lost control!

This is not a case of "no harm, no foul". He may have been the most dangerous guy in the whole nation that afternoon.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Time for someone to be relieved of duty.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

This one person rest to be ensured otherwise he ll ensure permanent rest for so many peoples.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

he “was overcome by drowsiness and momentarily fell asleep at the controls while using the brake.”

At least he fell asleep while applying the brake. Better that than the accelerator!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If he was diagnosed with this condition, he should not be a driver of anything. Granted a train is on rails so it is a bit harder to crash then say a free roaming bus or plane, but still.

Sad though, this will end his carrer as a train driver. Hopefully they will just move him to a different position in the company.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I fear that this is a problem that is becoming wide spread not just in japan but around the world and I think that, while this ended in a relatively minor inconvenience to passengers of 8 minutes it could have been a lot worse. The Croydon tram disaster in London last year, that killed 7, happened as the tram was approaching a station,  was because the driver blacked out or fell asleep (the exact cause is still to be determined) at his post and lost control of the vehicle!  

Anyone who has a condition that could affect their responsibilities in safeguarding other people lives has to be looked after and if necessary moved to another role where they are not  danger to themselves or others.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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