Delaying high-speed trains must be deterred

A VIDEO showing a woman preventing the door of a high-speed train carriage from closing so her laggardly husband could board the train at Hefei, East China’s Anhui province, on Friday, has sparked anger online. Ifeng.com comments:

The video of this incident posted online infuriated the public not because of the woman’s actions, but the failure of the police on the spot to act appropriately.

The police officers not only had enough power, but also sufficient reasons to end her irresponsible and dangerous act by forcibly removing the woman from the train. But they did not.

The police are now investigating the case, and say the woman will receive her due punishment according to relevant regulations.

But the woman’s behavior is obviously far beyond breaking regulations. Preventing the train from departing on time just so her tardy husband could board shows her ignorance of public interests and security. The timetable of the high-speed trains, which are particularly busy during the winter season, is meticulously planned and calculated. Any delay to one train can have a domino effect on other trains.

It is by no means an impulsive act but an intentional, selfish and reckless one that deserves punishing according to law. If the authorities show leniency to the woman, this will be a bad example encouraging others to behave in a similar way — as being late for a train often happens — to follow suit.

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