Why Japan has the world’s best trains

The worst thing trainspotters can do in Japan is blink. But even if they miss the bullet train, the next one is probably just minutes away, looking like Amtrak at 3x speed.The country’s famous Shinkansen high-speed rail network can replace a six-hour drive with a two-hour ride at a top speed of 200 mph. It also boasts frequent service and an average delay time of 1.6 minutes. Meanwhile, an early departure by 25 seconds once prompted an official apology from the train company.While offering tourists an experience to obsess over alongside multistory manga stores, it’s also a common mode of transportation for local travelers. In Japan, 28% of the country’s passenger miles are traveled by train, compared with 10% in France and 0.25% in the US.How do they do it?Transportation experts say Japan’s railtopia stems from the privatization of the country’s railroads in the 1980s. Its notoriously inefficient national railroad was split into six companies, which axed unprofitable routes and became more nimble than the national conglomerate.Plus, the railroad companies aren’t just running trains:They also own real estate and operate businesses near stations (from amusement parks to retirement homes), playing a key role in developing dense neighborhoods near stations to drive rail ridership.For instance, a third of East Japan Railway Company’s revenue last year came from its hotel, real estate, and retail businesses, giving it extra cash to fund trains.There’s also the extensive staff training at weeks-long retreats, leading to low staff turnover and high professionalism.In a virtuous cycle…the quality passenger experience keeps trains full, helping fund further service upgrades.—SK