I don't if this is relevant but at least one of these things is not like the others. In Tokyo rail is privately owned. There are 10+ train companies in Tokyo al

I don't if this is relevant but at least one of these things is not like the others. In Tokyo rail is privately owned. There are 10+ train companies in Tokyo alone and many more all over. Osaka/Kyoto probably have a similar number. They get to own the land the trains are on and the stations so many stations become shopping centers run by the train company. Some stores they run, For example Tokyu Trains runs Tokyu groceries, Tokyu department stores. The famous 109 buildings in Shibuya are called 109 because 10 can be pronounced "tou" and 9 can be "kyu". The famous Tobu department store in Ikebukuro with 64 restaurants is run by the Tobu train company. A lot of stations have an "Atre" shopping center above them. Those are Japan Rail owned. Etc... Some stores they rent out. Many of the new 20-30 story buildings and the new 50 story building above Shibuya station is owned by Tokyu. That may or may not make it cheaper to build but it gives them more money to support trains and there are also arguably incentives to make your lines the most attractive so people will want to live on that line and patronize your line and all your stores and businesses. I don't know where it will end but it's a long way from the no self interested incentive to do a good job publicly run trains. Of course many publicly run trains do great as well. I'd be curious to know if there are other incentives that help. For example Singapore trains seem have a shopping center over many stations. Maybe the government runs that and can use the rent to help balance the train books. No idea.