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Subway station in Japan (icon image)
Photo: BEHROUZ MEHRI/ AFP
In Japan, a little girl sneaked into the unlocked driver's cab of a subway train, disrupting the station's operations.
As reported by the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, the subway driver had left the driver's cab for the purpose of turning around after arriving at the Seishin-chuo terminus in the city of Kobe, leaving the door unlocked, contrary to regulations.
According to the report, the girl slipped inside and began playing with the fittings.
It said it switched off the headlights and the destination display of the parked train.
Shortly thereafter, the girl was discovered and asked to leave the driver's cab.
"We deeply apologize for the trouble caused"
But the little one was apparently such an enthusiastic "engine driver" that she promptly stole back into an unlocked driver's cab on a neighboring track.
Since the train operator first had to make sure that she hadn't broken anything and that the trains were safe, the timetable got mixed up.
A total of 23 trains were delayed by up to 18 minutes, which affected around 3,000 passengers, it said.
Japan prides itself on the legendary punctuality of its trains.
It is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
Delays are frowned upon, as is leaving early.
Except for natural disasters, there are hardly any delays.
“We deeply apologize for the trouble caused.
We'll make sure the doors are locked," the paper quoted the Kobe Transportation Bureau as saying.
wit/dpa