Each day, 323 bullet trains depart Tokyo Station.
The Tessei Cleaning Crew takes only 7 minutes to clean EACH TRAIN before new passengers get aboard.
It involves 100 seats per car, and they do each row in 12 seconds.
Luggage racks are checked, seats are cleared, folding trays are wiped and disinfected, armrests are disinfected, windows are wiped, and floors are swept.
All the seats are turned forward electronically (via a swivel function).
The average age of crew members is 52-years-old. To show their respect to the trains and passengers, the crew bows as the trains arrive,
... and when they finish their jobs. It's tremendous pride and diligence.
Consequently, Japanese passengers also do their best to leave trains as neat as they found them.
It's another example of the "Broken Window Philsophy" that when things are maintained well, they will be respected... and vice versa. The philosophy's name was created in the 1970s by a New York City Metropolitan Transpiration Authority (MTA) director, who wanted to clean up NYC's neglected subway trains.
Ironically, the overpaid/overcharging MTA hasn't been made to clean its trains by any politician EVER. America is so far behind! Look at our modern-day subway...
The NYC Comptroller published a scathing audit about how few of the MTA's elevators and escalators work, indicating that it's not their priority. The audit proved that 80% of 65 elevators & escalators didn't receive necessary servicing, during 18 months. Naturally, they failed to get preventive servicing either, meaning that when they were supposed to be worked on--prior to breaking down--they weren't. The audit proved that work-orders weren't created after problems were found. An elevator on the busy 1-line was out of order for 2 months! There's a class-action lawsuit against the MTA because not even a quarter of the city's stations are handicap accessible. The MTA spokesman said they're spending $1 billion on repairs. (Which I'm sure goes into their friends' pockets who own the repair companies... meanwhile nothing has been fixed).
Last month, the NY Times wrote that increasing quantities of signal & switch malfunctions--during the height of morning commutes--leave riders stranded from Brooklyn up to the Bronx. Delays soared to more than 70,000 each month, from 28,000 per month in 2012!
Here is what the MTA's MetroNorth and Long Island Railroad commuter trains offer their passengers, for $500 per month: dirt-caked seats (each and every one of them)!
More images are here:
Historically, the LIRR--the oldest and busiest commuter railroad in America--has been uncaringly inefficient and outdated... despite its always-expensive ticket fares. During the suburban population boom of the 1940s, the monopolistic railroad let riders suffer with equipment that they charged a lot for but didn't bother to upgrade. By 1962, ridership had grown from 5,690 to 33,695. Yet, by 1970 the railroad had only (cheaply) bought 26 "used" train cars--not even new ones! Those cars replaced 40-year-old cars (from the 1930s) that still used "ice cooling" as air-conditioning! !!! Imagine an urban railway forcing customers to use 40-year-old equipment--that lacked air-conditioning. Not one politician or MTA chieftain forced any improvement... but they don't use the subway, so they don't appreciate riders' misery.
Months ago, a power surge (from equally corrupt Con Edison) blew antiquated fuses (that the MTA ignored--and somehow passed safety inspections), which shut down rail service for thousands of commuters in New York and New Jersey. The delays and cancellations lasted days. It occurred right after two train derailments (due to outdated rails, which also somehow passed years of inspections). In typical unhurried manner, the MTA and Amtrak said it'd take months/years to restore.
While New York's wealthiest commuters use those filthy trains from Long Island, Scarsdale, and Connecticut, here's what Japan offers their wealthiest commuters.
Americans are too tolerant of their own under-performing industries and agencies... yet they obstinately claim to be "great". Please use this link to see what I mean:
Months ago, a power surge (from equally corrupt Con Edison) blew antiquated fuses (that the MTA ignored--and somehow passed safety inspections), which shut down rail service for thousands of commuters in New York and New Jersey. The delays and cancellations lasted days. It occurred right after two train derailments (due to outdated rails, which also somehow passed years of inspections). In typical unhurried manner, the MTA and Amtrak said it'd take months/years to restore.
While New York's wealthiest commuters use those filthy trains from Long Island, Scarsdale, and Connecticut, here's what Japan offers their wealthiest commuters.
Americans are too tolerant of their own under-performing industries and agencies... yet they obstinately claim to be "great". Please use this link to see what I mean:
Meanwhile, other places truly are great, but are modest.
Please read about my trip to Japan here:
http://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2016/11/our-trip-to-japan-1-of-6.html
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