A white wagon car stops on the track displayed in light red, and a uniformed employee is calling somewhere beside it.
A car parked illegally on the Sapporo streetcar track, and there was a commotion that the tram stopped for about 10 minutes.
The driver returned after a few minutes and apologized to the tram staff.
According to J-CAST News interviewing the City Transportation Business Promotion Corporation, which operates the tram, on June 13, 2022, at around 17:05 on the 12th, west of 3 Minami 1 Jonishi, Chuo-ku, Sapporo. Between the 4-chome and Tanukikoji stops, a tram that circulates outside was stuck because a wagon car parked on the railroad track could not pass.
Multiple photos taken at this time are posted on Twitter and spread by being retweeted.
When I saw them, there were many people on the street in the shopping district on Sunday evening, so people gathered and became a turbulent moment, and I saw people taking pictures of illegal parking. According to the post, a car driver man bought a cake at a nearby store a few minutes later, apologized to the uniform staff, and then ran away.
The operation management section of the Municipal Transportation Business Promotion Corporation responded to the interview about the situation at that time, saying that the train was forced to stop at the site for about 10 minutes. The staff in uniform rushed in with support, and the driver returned, so he asked him to move his car and was very careful. Due to this effect, the following train was also delayed by about 10 minutes. It was a “tram free day” on that day, and both trains were crowded.
“If it’s malicious, ask the police for help.”
The streetcar is a double track, but the site was not in the middle of the road, but in a side-reservation section where tracks were laid on the sidewalk side both inside and outside.
The streetcar was extended and looped in December 2015, resulting in a circular operation. The side reservation method was also introduced at this time.
“Initially, there were several roadsides, which hindered the operation. After that, it was only once a year, and recently there have been almost no roadsides, so I think it’s rare.”
According to past newspaper reports, in February 2016, a driver woman in her twenties illegally parked on a railroad track on the sidewalk side, and two trains were delayed by up to about 12 minutes. I have a ticket for a parking violation.
At the promotion public corporation, this time it was about 10 minutes, so I paid close attention to it. However, if it is malicious, he will ask the police for cooperation, saying, “In the worst case, it will be a tow truck, so please do not park your car on the track.”
(Hiroyuki Noguchi, J-CAST News Editorial Department)