Narita helicopter service vs. new Narita Express train
FTV compare’s the new helicopter and rail services to and from Narita airport:
The helicopter flight takes 30 minutes and has nice leather seats with interior decoration by Hermes. A one-way ticket costs 75,000 yen (but a special launch price of 57,000 yen will be in effect until the end of this year).
The new Narita Express NEX E259 trains begin service on October 1st. The trip between Tokyo and the airport takes about an hour, but it will be a far cheaper ride than the helicopter. It will also be equipped with electrical outlets and locks for luggage.
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Categories: General Japan
The World’s Most Crowded Train
Some of you may have seen old video clips on YouTube of public transportation in Japan and assumed that Japan has the world’s most crowded trains. Apparently that’s not the case.
On Sunday night’s episode of “Itte Q,” weird reporter Imoto was sent to India so she could experience the “world’s most crowded train”:
They wanted to see if she could read a newspaper on the train, but it proved extremely difficult.
Note: Yes, she painted those stupid eyebrows on. They are part of her character.
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Categories: Odd / Strange
Crazy guy blocks train at Shinagawa station
A Japanese man blocks a Yamanote Line train at Shinagawa station, screaming and throwing rocks until JR workers take him down (the video clip is from a year ago, but its still making its way through the Japanese blogosphere):
[via Zaeega]
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Categories: General Japan
New Keisei Skyliner
Keisei Electric Railways have unveiled a new design for their Skyliner:
The new Skyliner will begin service between Ueno Station and Narita Airport in 2010. With a top speed of 160 km/hour, it will cut the current Skyliner travel time between the airport and Nippori Station by about 15 minutes.
Categories: Technology
Car Hit By Express Train
Video evidence of the horrible damage an express train can inflict on a car that does not move out of its way:
[The event shown in the video occurred yesterday on the JR Kagoshima Line in Fukuoka Prefecture. The 73-year-old driver of the car was unable to flee before the train arrived and was killed.]
Categories: General Japan
Japanese Police Officer Pushed in Front of Train, 2 Chinese Men Arrested
Ugly news out of Tokyo:
A police officer was hit by a train at Ochanomizu station in Tokyo last night, after being pushed down onto the tracks by 2 Chinese men. Apparently there was some shouting between the officer and men, starting a scuffle that ended in the officer falling off the platform and being hit by an oncoming train. The collision severed one of the officer’s legs and left him with other serious injuries. At the time of this posting, the officer was still in critical condition.
The Chinese men, who will likely be charged with attempted murder, have claimed that they had no intention of pushing the officer onto the tracks.
Categories: Foreigners in Japan