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Rush-hour crush on Tokyo subway leaves train with broken window

10 Comments
By Evie Lund

The Tokyo metropolitan subway system is notorious for being incredibly crowded at rush hour, with commuters packed into narrow train carriages like sardines in a can. You’re probably familiar with images of white-gloved train conductors literally pushing people onto trains in an attempt to squeeze just one more body on before departure.

It can be very scary being squished into a mass of people like that, and this particularly holds true in case of sudden incidents such as the one that occurred this week when the window of a train literally broke due to the pressure of all of those heaving bodies.

In the tweet at left uploaded by user _Jiro70, you can see the aftermath of the incident – a Tokyo metro employee is hastily taping up the cracked glass to avoid any injuries.

It’s thought that the incident occurred as a result of the carriage being seriously over capacity due to an unusually high number of commuters using the Tozai Line that day.

Netizens took to Twitter to register their shock after seeing the results of the crowded conditions:

“Is this what crowding on the Tozai line has come to?”

“Okay, so everyone knows the Tozai line is crowded, but to this extent? Too much pressure I guess?”

“I ride this train every day, but the thing that really shocks me is that this hasn’t happened before now.”

“So even though the trains are over capacity, they still have staff pushing people onto the trains. Of course the glass is gonna break.”

While it’s a relief that no one was hurt in the incident, it makes us wonder how safe it is to travel by train during the Tokyo rush hour.

Source: Iroiro

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Commuters surprisingly receptive to JR’s innovative new system -- Eight Great Tips for Getting a Seat on Japan’s Crowded Trains -- The most crowded train lines during rush hour in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya are…

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10 Comments
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They really need to put on more trains at peak-times, and / or install sensors to make sure not too many people get on (similar to what's currently in elevators) Currently it's a joke for most train lines. (I see they have posters about "manners" as well. One about not coughing or sneezing ON your fellow passenger would go down a treat

2 ( +2 / -0 )

That's odd. I've found the Tozai to be the least crowded, at least on its Western side, from Otemachi to Mitaka.

In the afternoons, you're guaranteed a seat.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I actually did that rush hour train crap for several years before I finally wised up and stopped doing that.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The only good thing about being that packed in is it's near impossible to fall over if you lose your balance on a turn.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I saw the door window on a Joban Line train forced out similarly, maybe 25 years ago. I imagine it happens more often than media reports would indicate. With the ubiquity of phone cameras, I expect more reports.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Great! Air conditioned trains for the Olympics!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yuck.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They could replace the glass windows with polycarbonate (unbreakable plastic) and get even more on these trains. Have not gotten to the point of people hanging out of the windows,doors, top like developed 3-world nations do.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just get rid of the doors and let them hang on, like they do in countries like India. Hell, if they're still in such a rush to get the first train that comes, let them go on the top of trains.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Now I have to visit Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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