West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) reported what is the first recorded "serious incident," a designation in the transport ministry's accident-classification system introduced in 2001, on a shinkansen after a crack and oil leak were discovered underneath a running bullet train bound for Tokyo.
"Serious incidents," under the classification system, are issues that could lead to serious accidents and are required to be reported to the transport ministry.
According to the operator, JR West, the crew of the bullet train noticed a burning smell on Monday when it left Kokura Station in Fukuoka Prefecture.