TOKYO – Workers can telecommunications while traveling on East Japan Railway’s new telework train cars, which went into trials Monday.
Passengers on special trains on the Tohoku shinkansen a bullet train line, which runs between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations, can use these special cars for phone calls and video conferencing, with free access to Wi-Fi routers to help maintain a stable connection up.
The tests run on weekdays through February 26 on specific sections of the line, with around eight to 10 trains per day featuring those cars. Cyclists can move to the designated cars to take advantage of their features at no extra cost.
The rise in companies that encourage work from home and cut down on business trips amid a coronavirus crisis has put a damper on JR East trains. The company is looking into the potential demand for remote work on board after the pandemic ends.
“I am happy to be able to use my travel time productively,” said a 39-year-old passenger on a train that left Tokyo Station around 8 a.m. The rider, who works for a manufacturing company, said he used the telework car to call a colleague to coordinate while on his way to Sendai for a meeting.
To reduce the risk of sensitive information being heard, JR East plays white noise in the designated telework cars from speakers developed in partnership with Yamaha. It also offers a separate internet connection from the free Wi-Fi available throughout the train.
Passengers in the telework cars can use free Wi-Fi routers to ensure a stable connection. (Photo by Shohei Nomoto)
December passenger traffic on JR East shinkansen lamented at about 40% of the previous year’s figure. The operator expects revenue from the trains, excluding passenger travel passes, to remain at around 80% of pre-coronavirus levels even after COVID-19 overdoses.
JR East is therefore seeking new opportunities created by changing approaches, such as the rise of telecommunications. Other new services are also being considered.