Workaholics aboard: Japan bullet train to debut telework cars

Nikkei -- Aug 27
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.

東海道・山陽新幹線「のぞみ」の一部車両が、１０月からビジネススペースになります。 　ＪＲ東海とＪＲ西日本は、今年１０月から東海道・山陽新幹線「のぞみ」の７号車を、パソコンなどを使って仕事をする乗客向けのビジネス専用車両として試験的に運行すると発表しました。 　座席は、インターネットで予約することができ、普通車指定席と同じ料金で利用できます。また、のぞみの最新型車両Ｎ７００Ｓでは、パソコンを置くための膝上クッションや充電器、簡易のついたてなども無料で貸し出され、従来のおよそ２倍の通信容量を備えた無料Ｗｉ‐Ｆｉサービスも利用できます。 　来年春からは、７号車と８号車の間の喫煙ルームを改造して、打ち合わせなどができるビジネスブースも試験的に設置します。また、今年１２月には、集中して仕事をしたり、Ｗｅｂ会議を行ったりするための個室のワークスぺースを東京、名古屋、京都、新大阪の駅構内などに設置するということです。 　新型コロナウイルスの影響で新幹線の利用客が減るなか、出張など、ビジネスでの利用客向けに「のぞみ」の環境を整えることで、集客につなげる狙いがあるとみられます。 - TBS NEWS
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