Society

Workaholics aboard: Japan bullet train to debut telework cars

Aug 27 (Nikkei) - As Japanese companies increasingly embrace flexible work arrangements during the pandemic, even an operator of bullet trains is having to accommodate passengers who choose to telework during the 2.5-hour trip between Tokyo and Osaka.

Nozomi shinkansen trains connecting the two megacities will have a designated "telework" car with double the Wi-Fi capacity of other carriages, starting in October, Central Japan Railway said Thursday.

"More people are looking to work from anywhere at any time, and shinkansen trains will adapt to this demand," said Shin Kaneko, president of Central Japan Railway.

Passengers will be able to access the Wi-Fi service with no extra cost. They can also borrow USB chargers, privacy shields for computer screens as well as miniature mice for free. Wireless signals will be encrypted to ensure security.

This service is limited to the N700S trains, the latest model for the Nozomi. It will be offered on the Tokaido shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka, as well as the Sanyo line serving western Japan.

Source: TBS NEWS

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