3 ms·

Because everyone wants to arrive on time.

logifail 4y ago
> Because everyone wants to arrive on time I don't believe this requirement is specific to the shinkansen, to Japan, or even to travelling by train.
- ehnto 4y ago
  Maybe you're trying to find a firm technical requirement for such tight timing, but they don't need one. In a sense the above comment is right, they (JR) just want it. One of their goals is to strive for such efficiency and punctuality so that the service is better overall, and so in your original comment I guess the answer is both that things would fall apart if the timing got messed up, and also that it's part of the reputation and one of the goals of their service. It's worth noting that JR is a series of privatized companies, which is notable because they're profitable as well. I imagine efficiency plays a pretty big role in that too.
  - logifail 4y ago
    > Maybe you're trying to find a firm technical requirement for such tight timing, but they don't need one. In a sense the above comment is right, they (JR) just want it. What happens if someone in a wheelchair wants to travel? > One of their goals is to strive for such efficiency and punctuality so that the service is better overall [..] Well, unless you happen to want to travel with a bicycle, that is. Punctuality is great, but punctuality above all else can't help but have consequences, and some of those might be quite significant negatives for some travellers. > It's worth noting that JR is a series of privatized companies, which is notable because they're profitable as well No snark intended, and I know very little about Japan or its railways, but as with so many things, if you can persuade someone else to pay for the construction of your infrastructure then profitability is significantly easier: "The costs for construction of new high-speed railway (except Chuo Shinkansen which is mainly paid by JR Central) are shared by national government and local governments along the line. National government pays 2/3 of construction costs, local governments bear the rest of it." ( https://www.mlit.go.jp/kokusai/itf/policy_001.html https://www.mlit.go.jp/kokusai/itf/policy_001.html )
    - johnwalkr 4y ago
      If you’re in a wheelchair, staff will assist you with a ramp when boarding, and they will arrange for someone to be waiting with a ramp at your destination station. And you can take a bike, it’s just has to be in a bag. Inside the bag, you’re supposed to have the front wheel and pedals removed (in practice people don’t remove pedals), and the handlebars turned 90 degrees. It works fine so what you’re really arguing is for tolerating delays, reducing capacity and inconveniencing everyone else just to make it extra convenient to bring a bike on board. It’s like arguing that you should be able to bring your bike on as a carry-on in a flight.
- markdown 4y ago
  So the question isn't why the shinkansen has that requirement, but why every other transportation service doesn't.

> Because everyone wants to arrive on time I don't believe this requirement is specific to the shinkansen, to Japan, or even to travelling by train.

ehnto 4y ago
Maybe you're trying to find a firm technical requirement for such tight timing, but they don't need one. In a sense the above comment is right, they (JR) just want it. One of their goals is to strive for such efficiency and punctuality so that the service is better overall, and so in your original comment I guess the answer is both that things would fall apart if the timing got messed up, and also that it's part of the reputation and one of the goals of their service. It's worth noting that JR is a series of privatized companies, which is notable because they're profitable as well. I imagine efficiency plays a pretty big role in that too.
- logifail 4y ago
  > Maybe you're trying to find a firm technical requirement for such tight timing, but they don't need one. In a sense the above comment is right, they (JR) just want it. What happens if someone in a wheelchair wants to travel? > One of their goals is to strive for such efficiency and punctuality so that the service is better overall [..] Well, unless you happen to want to travel with a bicycle, that is. Punctuality is great, but punctuality above all else can't help but have consequences, and some of those might be quite significant negatives for some travellers. > It's worth noting that JR is a series of privatized companies, which is notable because they're profitable as well No snark intended, and I know very little about Japan or its railways, but as with so many things, if you can persuade someone else to pay for the construction of your infrastructure then profitability is significantly easier: "The costs for construction of new high-speed railway (except Chuo Shinkansen which is mainly paid by JR Central) are shared by national government and local governments along the line. National government pays 2/3 of construction costs, local governments bear the rest of it." ( https://www.mlit.go.jp/kokusai/itf/policy_001.html https://www.mlit.go.jp/kokusai/itf/policy_001.html )
  - johnwalkr 4y ago
    If you’re in a wheelchair, staff will assist you with a ramp when boarding, and they will arrange for someone to be waiting with a ramp at your destination station. And you can take a bike, it’s just has to be in a bag. Inside the bag, you’re supposed to have the front wheel and pedals removed (in practice people don’t remove pedals), and the handlebars turned 90 degrees. It works fine so what you’re really arguing is for tolerating delays, reducing capacity and inconveniencing everyone else just to make it extra convenient to bring a bike on board. It’s like arguing that you should be able to bring your bike on as a carry-on in a flight.
markdown 4y ago
So the question isn't why the shinkansen has that requirement, but why every other transportation service doesn't.