Travel et cetera: The wonder railway network

A country that runs on its mammoth railway network can surely pride itself for being the near-perfect technological wonder. In Japan a few millions commute by train every day. Entire cities seem to spread underground with their tentacles as the urban network operates mostly through subway stations. Trains of almost every description are aplenty—passenger trains, express trains, long-distance trains, the iconic ‘shinkansen’ or ‘bullet’ trains the ‘maglev’ or magnetic levitation trains, the Romance cars! The network is operated by different companies, both government-owned and private. A tourist, on his first visit to a metropolitan subway station is sure to get baffled at the mind-boggling network! These stations, both underground and over ground, are lined on both sides by shops selling everyday necessities, food items and condiments, vending machines , eateries and restaurants of different categories. Even the most insignificant station will have some grub to offer even at an unearthly hour. The stations are agog with passengers from early morning—even in the bitter cold months the compartments are jam-packed. But what is amazing is the fact that there is no mad rush, no jostling, no pushing, no yelling. As the train stops at a station, the right of way is first given to passengers alighting, in a queue. Those waiting to board the train stand patiently, again in a queue, for their turn to get in. Wheelchair-bound passengers and senior citizens, babies in perambulators and differently abled passengers have a smooth entry to the compartments and are stationed safely and comfortably in their designated areas. The rough yellow patch all along the platform in each and every station safely guides the visually challenged to the door of the compartment. Little children going to schools all by themselves without any adult escort, is a very common sight both at stations and on the roads. This tells a lot about the public transport system in the country.

The scene inside the compartments is more surprising. Passengers of every conceivable type—young, old ,middle-aged, men women, students, professionals, businessmen---all sitting in a row and surfing mobile phones, texting, earphones plugged in their ears. Even if they talk, it is barely audible.And all this technological wonder comes with an icing on the cake.... The annual average of the delay in the running of the trains is just seven seconds!