The decision surprised everyone. A train driver driving a medium-distance service between Madrid and León, in Spain, abandoned the train and locked the cabin at an intermediate station because his work shift had ended.
The event occurred on March 27 in Sahagún, a town located just 32 minutes by train from the city of León, the final destination of the trip. The around 150 passengers who were on board found out through the information screens located on the platform.
“We couldn’t understand anything at that time. I recorded a video with that message on the train departure and arrival information screens because I had never experienced a similar situation. “It was surreal to be left on the ground because a driver was leaving because his day was over,” he commented. Javier Garcia to the newspaper Chronicle of Lion.
Why the train driver abandoned the passengers at an intermediate station
Most of the passengers traveled to León for Easter, to spend a few days of rest and visit family and friends.
The train had left Madrid’s Príncipe Pío station, but the trip ended abruptly. Half an hour after reaching his destination and after arriving at the Sahagún station, the driver got off the train and locked the cabin door.
Suddenly, everything was confusion. The passengers did not understand why the formation did not continue its journey. When they found out they screamed, but they couldn’t do anything. The information sign on the platform explained the unusual reason: the driver was refusing to continue the trip because he had finished his work shift.
«Departures. Lion. Estimated 21.42. Suppressed in Sahagún because his driver was working his day. «Your travelers, by road from this (station) to their destination,» the company’s announcement said. Shortly after, the information changed to more generic information.
Read also: Four environmentalists chained themselves in front of Michelangelo’s David to protest climate change
Then, the passengers had to wait for the Renfe company to send three buses so that the passengers could continue the trip. The most bizarre thing came later: the driver himself got on the first of the buses who arrived at the station.
What the union said about the attitude of the driver
The Spanish Union of Railway Machinists defended the worker. According to him, he acted responsibly.
The union said that the driver had already completed his workday and explained: “If he suffers an accident on the remaining section between Sahagún and León, or falls asleep and there is an accident, a serious problem will arise and it could end in prison».
Read also: Assault on the embassy in Quito: Mexican diplomatic personnel left Ecuador after the breakdown of relations
A spokesperson for the union said that “the law of the railway sector is clear” and prohibits the driver from exceeding his working day.