The driver of a Japanese bullet train that can reach top speeds of 175mph has been suspended after being caught in the cab with his feet up.

The 29 year old admitted stretching his legs out on the dashboard for about 10 seconds, adding that he had done it a number of times before, according to operator Central Japan Railways Company.

The driver who has not been named was photographed by a rail enthusiast as his 16-car Kodama train passed between Kakegawa and Hamamatsu stations in the Shizuoka Prefecture. The photo has since been shared thousands of times on Twitter.

The incident prompted the Central Japan Railways Company to hold a press conference where a spokesperson apologised on behalf of the driver, reported Japan Today, adding that it was against the rules for a driver to have his feet up on the panel as it could prevent a fast response in the event of an emergency.

Kodama trains, one of the types of train on Japan’s high-speed rail network, have a system that automatically reduces speed should it go over the limit, the spokesperson said.

There is more than 1,700 miles of bullet train network in Japan Credit: Getty

In 1964 Japan was the first country in the world to use such high-speed rail, widely known as bullet trains.

Its Shinkansen network is made up of more than 1,700 miles of high-speed railway, with the fastest trains reaching speeds of 200mph.

The network’s safety record is regarded as good, with no deaths caused by derailments or collisions. Last June, a passenger committed suicide on-board a Tokyo to Osaka service by setting himself on fire, killing a woman in her 50s and injuring 20 other passengers.