The Edmondson Blog

Japanese railways are among the most punctual in the world. The average delay on the Tokaido Shinkansen in 2007 was only 0.6 minutes. When trains are delayed for as little as five minutes, the conductor makes an announcement apologizing for the delay. Japanese passengers rely heavily on rail transit and take it for granted that trains operate on time. When trains are delayed for an hour or more, it may even appear in the newspaper. However, some argue that railway staff are under too much pressure from the public. These stringent standards are considered contributors to the cause of serious accidents such as the Amagasaki rail crash in 2005.