Japanese train company apologises after train leaves 20 seconds early

MOH

Can't imagine this ever happening here (the apology, that is - the leaving early happens frequently despite the claim to the contrary in the IR passenger charter)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/17/japanese-rail-company-apologises-train-20-seconds-early

lawred2

you can be sure of it..

I presume that there are plenty here commuting daily on the Dart. The last few weeks have been an absolute sh!t show. Delays every single day for all manner of reasons (usually technical), either morning or evening or both. The evenings are definitely the worst. Then reduced capacity Darts for no explicable reason where usually a longer Dart would be the norm.

I travel in and out to Connolly and quite frankly it's a disgusting place to be. Narrow over crowded dirty platforms choked in diesel exhaust fumes.

We really are poorly served by almost every single administrative body in this state.

cherryghost

Been out in Japan a few times. I always remember one time; there was an earthquake close to midnight one night, shook our hotel room and we promptly ran out to the reception. Of course they being used to it, just said 'happens all the time, dont worry!' Back to bed I go.

Next day we're taking the Jr-East and there was videos inside the carriages. Basically due to some earthquake damage, the lines were running about 1 minute late and they apologize. If employees wish to excuse themselves with their boss, at your alighting stop you can get 'tardiness cards' at the station exit, explaining why you may be a minute late for work.

Surreal. The whole trip was (and my subsequent trips across Japan too).

Church on Tuesday

Public transport in this country really is a joke. Even in England trains are rarely late from my experience.

Would love to visit Japan sometime.

jamo2oo9

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

Public transport in this country really is a joke. Even in England trains are rarely late from my experience.

Would love to visit Japan sometime.

How many times have you taken the train in England? They aren't any better than us in regards to timekeeping and punctuality.

Amirani

Church on Tuesday wrote: »

Public transport in this country really is a joke. Even in England trains are rarely late from my experience.

Must not have much experience so! Trains in England are regularly late, particularly in the South East.

devnull

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

How many times have you taken the train in England? They aren't any better than us in regards to timekeeping and punctuality.

Having took the DART for years and also took Suburban trips quite frequently in other countries I can assure you that Irish Rail is nowhere near the top when it comes to timekeeping and punctuality.

As for the UK, the infrastructure is generally worked much harder than here, has more frequent trains, higher line speeds and a far more complicated set-up infrastructure wise as passenger numbers have boomed in the last few years.

I was on a GWR train two weeks ago where the train manager was apologizing after each stop for running 2-3 minutes later incidentally.

Church on Tuesday

How many times have I taken the train in England? Many times. I lived in the North - West for a time.

Was late maybe once in all that time.

Could be different down South though.

lawred2

Trains delayed in Dublin again... No point breaking with the norm before the weekend I suppose

conor_ie

+1 on the transport in Japan, it really is worlds apart compared to our own. When I was travelling there, I used the subway system quite a bit in Tokyo and the overnight buses to get around the country. Seats were decent, just a shame I couldn't sleep in them!

Victor

Note that a train leaving early is much worse than a train leaving late.

lawred2 wrote: »

Trains delayed in Dublin again... No point breaking with the norm before the weekend I suppose

It seems there was a casualty on the DART.

flaneur

The DART’s biggest issues seem to be incidents at the Merrion Gates or bridge strikes

I’ve never seen any other city with a metro-like train line that uses level crossings. That is a major issue hampering frequencies on that line and reducing reliability and it causes major traffic problems for the areas it cuts through.

You’re looking at 1980s infrastructure that just consisted of electrification of a very low frequency diesel line and rebranding it.

By modern standards it’s pretty basic.

Victor

flaneur wrote: »

I’ve never seen any other city with a metro-like train line that uses level crossings.

It's essentially the oldest commuter railway in the world.

It can't be lowered because of the Dodder and the sea. Raising it would be expensive and time consuming, requiring an extended closure and would put many noses out of joint. Similarly, putting it underground would be €€€.