Woman Blocks High-Speed Train with Leg in China Just to Wait For Her Late Friends

Imagine being on a high-speed train, ready to zip across the country with precision timing — and then, out of nowhere, the entire journey is put on pause by… someone’s leg.

That’s exactly what happened at Shenzhen North Station on 18 Apr 2025, in a scene that quickly went viral across Chinese social media and left many people shaking their heads.

Around 1pm, a woman caused a major disturbance at the bustling station when she physically blocked the doors of a high-speed train — Train D2404, to be exact — as it was about to depart. And no, this wasn’t an accident. According to footage that surfaced online, she deliberately stuck her leg out to keep the doors open, all while on the phone and visibly distressed.

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A desperate delay

Image credit: @社会热点+随拍 | Douyin

As platform staff rushed in to intervene, the situation escalated. Two female station employees tried to pull the woman away from the doors, but she wouldn’t budge. The train’s alarm system began blaring, a sure sign that something had gone seriously wrong.

Despite the chaos, the woman stood her ground. She waved her arms and beckoned toward the distance, urging someone to hurry. And sure enough, moments later, three people — another woman and two children — came running toward the train, dragging luggage behind them.

Without missing a beat, the woman helped one of the children get on board, slipped inside herself, and the train doors finally slid shut. The train departed shortly afterwards, but the drama didn’t end there.

The internet weighs in

Once the video started making the rounds online, netizens had plenty to say — and most of it wasn’t supportive. Many slammed her actions as selfish, dangerous, and disruptive. One online user wrote, “Trains operate on strict timetables for a reason, and her actions would have inconvenienced everyone else on board and potentially caused knock-on delays to other services.”

And they had a point. High-speed trains in China are known for their punctuality and efficiency, and delays can ripple through the network, causing headaches for countless passengers.

Investigation and detention

The story took another turn when Guangzhou Railway Group confirmed the incident and announced an investigation. Just two days later, on 20 Apr 2025, the Shenzhen Railway Public Security Office released a statement confirming that the woman had been detained for “committing an illegal act of obstructing the normal operation of transportation.”

The authorities reminded the public that forcibly boarding or alighting from trains not only disrupts order but can also pose serious safety risks.

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A travel lesson worth noting

If you’re a traveller in China — or anywhere else, really — let this be a reminder: punctuality is part of the package when it comes to public transportation. Trains and planes don’t wait, and holding up a carriage full of people isn’t just bad manners; in some places, it’s against the law.

So next time you’re racing against the clock to catch a train, remember this story. And maybe… don’t try to stop a high-speed train with your leg.

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Image credit for cover photo: South China Morning Post | Official Website