Usually commuters get upset by train delays, but this time they were all smiles.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Keihin Tohoku Line, a popular commuter line in Tokyo, was delayed by a train stopped at Kamata Station. Was it some kind of technical trouble or an accident? No, the train was stopped so staff could remove a very tiny stowaway.
The culprit? A Japanese bush warbler!
▼ “I heard the Keihin Tohoku line is delayed because of a bird on the train. Do you think they mean this one? This bush warbler was on there this morning!”
[京浜東北線] 20:07(10ツイート) RT @ordinarymanjp: 京浜東北線が車内に鳥が入ったため遅れてるって言ってたけど、鳥ってこの鳥じゃない？朝から乗車してた鶯。 https://t.co/XeAWWzMMhN
— TrainDelayBot (@user4dev) September 28, 2016
Hey, buddy! Wouldn’t it be faster to fly?
Since the confused little bird couldn’t seem to find his way off the train, JR staff had to come in and remove him. After all, he clearly wasn’t holding a ticket or a Suica card!
▼ “There is a bird inside the carriage, so do not enter.”
https://twitter.com/canopus_C1A/status/781059461204946944This wasn’t as easy as you might think though. Perhaps our little feathered friend is a very determined densha otaku?
▼ “This went on forever.”
RT @metabolic_boyz: 永遠こんなことやってる。 #京浜東北線 #鳥 pic.twitter.com/W0jngv4EQB
— いっちー (@ichi_shun) September 28, 2016
You’d think with all the time it was taking, busy Tokyoites would be frustrated and angry, but if Twitter is any indication, they were taking it in stride and finding the humor in the situation.
“I can’t stop laughing, Keihin Tohoku has been delayed by a bird in the train.”
“On the Keihin Tohoku now. An announcement: there is a bird flying around. Well, that’s… peaceful.”
“On the Keihin Tohoku and the train schedule had to be adjusted because of a bird on the train! Really?! That’s not bad news… that’s bird news.”
Finally, the staff were able to capture the bird and take it off the carriage.
捕獲の図。一件落着。#京浜東北線#鳥 pic.twitter.com/4jY7P9h81l
— This is 最高に丁度いいメタボ。 (@metabolic_boyz) September 28, 2016
▼ “In Car 7 (the bird was in Car 6)
JR Staff: ‘We sincerely apologize for the trouble! … Why a bird would leave all that nice nature out in Ofuna to come to Oimachi, though, I just don’t know.’
Passengers burst out laughing.
This has been a live report.”
7号車(トリがいたのは6号車)にて。
— This is 最高に丁度いいメタボ。 (@metabolic_boyz) September 28, 2016
JR社員「皆さん、ご迷惑をおかけしまして申し訳ありませんでさた！(中略)...大船のいい環境のところを飛び回ってたのにこんなところ(大井町)に来させられちゃって...」
乗客爆笑。
以上、現場より。#京浜東北線#鳥
No word on whether they charged the bird the full fare before release.
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