Overview
- JR East said on March 30 the likely cause was a loose screw in the pneumatically powered door unit that let air leak and weakened the force keeping the door shut.
- The Kaiji 28 service, running from Kofu to Shinjuku, showed a door-open alert around 2 p.m. on March 28 as it passed Hatsukari Station in Yamanashi Prefecture.
- The crew applied the emergency brake to stop the train and found one door on the left side in the direction of travel standing open.
- About 250 passengers and crew were on board and no injuries were reported.
- Japan’s transport ministry classified the case as a major incident and the Transport Safety Committee sent railway accident investigators to examine the train and procedures.