On the morning of the 14th, an alarming situation occurred when six trains on the JR Takarazuka Line (Fukuchiyama Line) ran without the crossing gates being closed. The incident was reported to have stemmed from a malfunction of the crossing control device, as confirmed by JR West on the 17th. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but officials from JR West acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and expressed their commitment to implement measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

The incident unfolded around 6:20 AM when the driver of a local train heading from Shin Mita to Osaka, upon departing from Kawanishi Ikeda Station in Hyogo Prefecture, noticed that the crossing was not closed approximately 130 meters ahead. The driver promptly activated the emergency brake to halt the train. An investigation revealed that this train was the first of six upward trains that had traversed the crossing in an open state; however, the gates operated correctly during the passage of downward trains.

This failure raised significant safety concerns, as the improper functioning of crossing controls could lead to severe accidents. The situation underscores the importance of rigorous maintenance and oversight of railway systems to ensure passenger safety. As JR West takes this incident seriously, it will likely lead to enhanced protocols in monitoring and repairing such critical infrastructure to avoid future malfunctions.