Japanese rail firm says sorry... as train goes 20secs early!

FOR British commuters routinely forced to put up with late-running trains, it will be an entirely foreign concept.

A Japanese rail company has apologised to passengers... after one of its trains departed 20 seconds too early.

Tuesday’s service was due to leave Minami-Nagareyama station, 20 miles north of Tokyo, at 9.44.40 – but it actually went at 9.44.20. Bosses at Tsukuba Express, part of Japan’s famously punctual transport network, swiftly issued a statement.

‘We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused,’ it said. ‘The crew did not sufficiently check the departure time and performed the departure operation.’

Commuters were also assured that staff had been given additional training to ensure it does not happen again.

No one missed the train as a result of the early departure and there had been no complaints, the firm said.

The apology provoked wry comments on social media, particularly from weary British commuters.

One tweeted: ‘They apologise for being 20 seconds early, and yet you don’t get an apology from any major UK train company unless they’re over 2 hours late.’

Shuyler Velasco wrote: ‘I took a commuter train in Tokyo that was 2 minutes late, and there were profuse apologies. It was 2 minutes late because there was an earthquake.’

Another posted: ‘Public outcry in Japan because a train departed 20 seconds early. Imagine them having to put up with Southern Rail! Or any UK rail company...’