I’m visiting friends in Tokyo this week, so I’ll keep my eyes out for interesting things with an ecologic bent. After arriving into Narita airport yesterday afternoon, my partner and I validated our Japan Rail passes and boarded a train for Tokyo. It was no shock to me that the train system was so efficient, having heard about the legendary bullet trains, or “shinkansen” in Japan, but after a 12.5 hour flight, seeing that the rail system is integrated into the airport was a relief: I knew that trains would be available at regular intervals, and that we would be efficiently whisked to our destination. While the train we were on wasn’t a high-speed one, it was quick by Canadian standards. A woman even came by with a snack cart, from which we could purchase food using a card you just touch to a sensor. The efficiency was delightful. As we rocketed toward Tokyo, additional rail lines showed up around us, carrying trains of many vintages, from what looked like 50s era trains to modern transit. When we arrived in Tokyo, we seamlessly transfered into the subway system, and switched lines to get to our destination, using escalators and moving sidewalks all the way (no need to lug suitcases up stairs).
I plan to ride the shinkansen out of Tokyo later in the week; I’ll try not to spend the whole time thinking about the possibilities for Canada if only we had high-speed rail. But our country was practically founded on the dream of a national railroad, and it seems like it’s more than time for an update!
Do you have a rail dream for Canada? Have you taken high-speed trains in other countries?
