Shortly after 5 a.m. on June 29, a Kintetsu Railway train derailed immediately after departing Kyoto Station.

Officials said none of the approximately 30 passengers and crew on the four-car local train were injured.

They said the train bound for Kashiharajingu-mae Station had traveled about 120 meters from Kyoto Station when the driver felt as though the train was being pulled from behind and made an emergency stop.

Crew members later helped the passengers off the train and guided them on foot back to Kyoto Station.

S/ Reporter / I am on the west side of Kyoto Station. The derailed train can be seen behind me. If we count the lead car as Car 1, we can see that the third car has shifted out of position and is tilting.

A male university student who was riding in the first car said the train departed Kyoto Station without any problems, but he soon heard a grinding sound, as if something had collided.

He said the train made an emergency stop and remained stationary for about 20 minutes.

Following instructions from crew members, passengers climbed down a ladder onto the tracks and walked back to Kyoto Station under guidance by railway staff.

He said he only learned during the evacuation that the train had derailed, adding that he was surprised but passengers remained calm.

The accident has suspended train operations between Kyoto and Kamitobaguchi stations.

Officials said recovery efforts are expected to take a considerable amount of time.

The Japan Transport Safety Board has dispatched railway accident investigators to the scene to determine the cause by examining the train and interviewing the driver.