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Japan's private rail system is sometimes characterized as a real estate development scheme with a railroad attached. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/20

Japan's private rail system is sometimes characterized as a real estate development scheme with a railroad attached. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secret-to-tokyo-s-rail-success https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-05-18/the-secre... >That's the most of any private railway in Japan, as of 2006, according to Calimente. That year Tokyu generated $2.63 billion in revenue en route to $587 million in profits. Rail fares brought in about a third of that figure, real estate holdings reap another third, and retail about a fifth. Even in a highly managed economy, private or semi-private rail may be able to compete under the right circumstances.

pm90 5y ago
I could totally see railway stations becoming “hubs”, with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops for people to just hang out pre/post journey. In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted and have maybe a parking lot; this seemed really unusual to me as someone who grew up in Mumbai where the train stations have all kinds of stores selling food/books etc. It seemed so… dead. Somewhat alarmingly they don’t even have public restrooms! This is predicated on foot traffic though. And American transit systems are, let’s say, not the most appealing. I do hope that it changes.
- newleaf 5y ago
  This is the model being tried at the Miami Brightline station. The owners were (are?): Florida East Coast Industries, which is owned by Fortress Investment Group, which owned by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
- drdeadringer 5y ago
  > In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted Whilst some are, there are also a lot that are right next to "downtown areas" with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops. Sunnyvale, Mt View, Palo Alto, Redwood City for examples. Are you thinking just of the San Francisco terminus or the current "pre-Google development" San Jose Diridon terminus?
  - pm90 5y ago
    Yes, I use the Sunnyvale/Santa Clara - SF route.

pm90 5y ago

I could totally see railway stations becoming “hubs”, with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops for people to just hang out pre/post journey. In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted and have maybe a parking lot; this seemed really unusual to me as someone who grew up in Mumbai where the train stations have all kinds of stores selling food/books etc. It seemed so… dead. Somewhat alarmingly they don’t even have public restrooms! This is predicated on foot traffic though. And American transit systems are, let’s say, not the most appealing. I do hope that it changes.

newleaf 5y ago
This is the model being tried at the Miami Brightline station. The owners were (are?): Florida East Coast Industries, which is owned by Fortress Investment Group, which owned by Japanese conglomerate Softbank.
drdeadringer 5y ago
> In SFBA the Caltrain stations are totally deserted Whilst some are, there are also a lot that are right next to "downtown areas" with restaurants/bars/coffeeshops. Sunnyvale, Mt View, Palo Alto, Redwood City for examples. Are you thinking just of the San Francisco terminus or the current "pre-Google development" San Jose Diridon terminus?
- pm90 5y ago
  Yes, I use the Sunnyvale/Santa Clara - SF route.