What should have been a routine day in Seoul, South Korea, turned into chaos when 125 trains were delayed during the height of the morning rush hour. The cause of the disruption? A train operator who urgently needed to use the bathroom.
The operator on Seoul's Line 2 felt the need to relieve himself, so when the train stopped at a station, he hurried to the restroom. Unfortunately, the only toilet at that station was located on a different floor, and it took him 4 minutes and 16 seconds to return to the train. This delay triggered a significant domino effect on the trains that were following behind the now-stationary train.
Reports indicated that some trains were delayed by nearly 20 minutes when they reached their final destinations. However, Seoul Metro announced that the impact of the delay was largely mitigated, with most passengers reaching their destinations with minimal additional delays.
Once the story gained traction online, discussions shifted focus to the working conditions of train operators. In response, Seoul Metro clarified that operators typically work in shifts of 2 to 3 hours and are encouraged to take bathroom breaks as needed. They also mentioned that portable toilets are available on board for emergency situations.
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