Comments on: 8 Unexpected Benefits of Good Trains http://ecomodder.com/blog/8-unexpected-benefits-of-good-trains/ Wrench smart - driver smarter - save fuel Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:51:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: biotilldawn http://ecomodder.com/blog/8-unexpected-benefits-of-good-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-1856 biotilldawn Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:17:00 +0000 http://www.ecomodder.com/blog/2008/06/06/8-unexpected-benefits-of-good-trains/#comment-1856 I've never been on a train in Japan, but I have commuted on trains in Germany, France, New York, and California. America has a long way to go to meet the level of expertise in trains that the Europeans have acheived, but there's a growing movement among the commuting public here in the San Francisco Bay area to get out of cars and onto rails. I used Amtrak's Capitol Corridor service between San Jose and Sacramento (3 hours) twice a week for 4 months and found the commute the most relaxing part of my week. On-board people are chatting, playing board games on the tables provided in most booths, and generally kicking back and enjoying the scenery pass by. I never went hungry due to friendly service in the Cafe car. Would I say there's room for improvement? Of course! The California rail system is limited and slow compared to the foreign systems I've used, but ridership on the Capitol Corridor has increased by over 10 percent last year. Ridership drives the money machine here in California... so let's see what happens as more people figure out how to relax and ride the rails. I’ve never been on a train in Japan, but I have commuted on trains in Germany, France, New York, and California. America has a long way to go to meet the level of expertise in trains that the Europeans have acheived, but there’s a growing movement among the commuting public here in the San Francisco Bay area to get out of cars and onto rails. I used Amtrak’s Capitol Corridor service between San Jose and Sacramento (3 hours) twice a week for 4 months and found the commute the most relaxing part of my week. On-board people are chatting, playing board games on the tables provided in most booths, and generally kicking back and enjoying the scenery pass by. I never went hungry due to friendly service in the Cafe car. Would I say there’s room for improvement? Of course! The California rail system is limited and slow compared to the foreign systems I’ve used, but ridership on the Capitol Corridor has increased by over 10 percent last year. Ridership drives the money machine here in California… so let’s see what happens as more people figure out how to relax and ride the rails.

]]> By: Daniel http://ecomodder.com/blog/8-unexpected-benefits-of-good-trains/comment-page-1/#comment-1797 Daniel Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:04:43 +0000 http://www.ecomodder.com/blog/2008/06/06/8-unexpected-benefits-of-good-trains/#comment-1797 I lived in Japan in a few areas both out in the country and in the big cities for many years and I agree with all your points: Train travel in Japan really is an awesome experience, and a model to the world of how well run things can be. Unfortunately the trains being so on time thing is (in my opinion) a natural side effect of Japanese culture and work ethic: they take their jobs extremely seriously, and in general have a natural love of precision and things being in order. I'm from Australia and I'd love to see a train system half as good as Japan here, but I just don't think Australians (or Americans) are anal enough about things being on time to achieve it. It would probably require a fundamental change in the nature of the society. There is huge room for improvement which we could easily achieve, but I think the level of train service I've enjoyed in Japan isn't going to ever be a reality in my home country :/ I lived in Japan in a few areas both out in the country and in the big cities for many years and I agree with all your points: Train travel in Japan really is an awesome experience, and a model to the world of how well run things can be. Unfortunately the trains being so on time thing is (in my opinion) a natural side effect of Japanese culture and work ethic: they take their jobs extremely seriously, and in general have a natural love of precision and things being in order. I’m from Australia and I’d love to see a train system half as good as Japan here, but I just don’t think Australians (or Americans) are anal enough about things being on time to achieve it. It would probably require a fundamental change in the nature of the society.

There is huge room for improvement which we could easily achieve, but I think the level of train service I’ve enjoyed in Japan isn’t going to ever be a reality in my home country :/

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