Article: Sorry for the one minute delay: why Tokyo's trains rule

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Sorry for the one minute delay: why Tokyo's trains rule

The vast rail network that criss-crosses subterranean Tokyo can be a confusing and intimidating place for the uninitiated.

Dreary, utilitarian stations drone and chime with a stream of announcements, seemingly ignored by the mass of humanity that spills onto platforms or crams improbably into carriages.

It may not be pretty, but in a city where millions of commuters travel by train daily, it boasts the precision of a finely-crafted Swiss watch, keeping Tokyo moving - even if it means pushing hundreds of people into a single carriage at rush hour ...

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/travel-news/sorry-for-the-one-minute-delay-why-tokyos-trains-rule-20130925-2udv1.html

[bcasey]

I've heard about their system from some of my work colleagues who used to work there a few years ago. In order to get this kind of frequency, the complexity of the operations system must be mind-blowing. I would love to see something like this from a purely mathematical/operations research perspective.

"Prolonged delays are fodder for local, if not national, news programmes, and see the train companies handing out cards to passengers that they can submit to their bosses as a reason they were late for work." One of my work mates said that if your train is as little as 5 minutes late, these cards will be handed out. Japanese culture and in particular their attitude towards work is much different to Australians though. From what I've heard, for office workers at least, its considered rude if you leave work before your superiors do.

"For Japanese boys, the train driver sits alongside footballer, doctor and policeman as a dream job." I doubt the same could be said for Aussie boys, unfortunately.