Twelve railway and subway operators in the Tokyo metropolitan region will not run all-night services from Dec 31 to Jan 1 as part of anti-coronavirus measures to reduce crowds heading to shrines and New Year’s Eve countdown events.
The decision comes in response to a request by Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike and the governors of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures not to operate trains throughout the night, Fuji TV reported. Services will be the same as any weekday, transport officials said.
For JR East, it will be the first time since it was established in 1987 after the break-up of Japanese National Railways that train services on New Year’s Eve will be curtailed. JR East operates the busy Yamanote and Chuo lines, among others.
Tokyo Metro and Toei subway are also among companies shortening their hours, as are the operators of the Keikyu, Keisei, Keio and Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit lines. In addition, the Shonan Monorail in Kanagawa Prefecture, which is popular among people wanting to see the year’s first sunrise, will be suspended for the night. Seibu Railway, Odakyu Electric, Tokyu Corp and Tobu Railway are other operators that will suspend all-night services.
© Japan Today
20 Comments
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klutzman
Refreshing to see some tangible action taking place as a preventative measure.
Brian Wheway
looks like the taxis are going to be busy.
shogun36
Wait, so that means workers will get to have a special night off and spend it with their family for a change? How criminal............
TokyoJoe
Genius plan, so I guess everybody won't be crammed in like sardines in a can on the last train?
TokyoJoe
SandyBeachHeaven
The trains run all night for more than just these two days during the year end holidays.
This will help with nothing.
Seesaw7
Glad to hear this news !
Monozuki
It wasn't like this last year. I wonder when things would get back to normal. :‑(
smartacus
SandyBeachHeaven
I am not aware of any other night of the year, besides New Year's Eve, that trains run all through the night. Which nights are you referring to?
noriahojanen
The fewer number of train cars could form bigger crowds....
Better stay home or visit a local shrine or temple. Almost all residential areas across Japan enshrine one or more "designated" gods/deities as a local guardian. It's a rightful manner to pay hommage first to a neighboring shrine/temple and then to vist major and popular one.
Kumagaijin
People really shouldn't be out celebrating, not wearing masks right now. Other countries have made restrictions. Japanese government should "urge" more than it does. However, some people just gotta do something on New Years that involves drinking around a bunch of strangers in crowded areas. I expect New Years will be a Trump Rally-like super spreader event. I'm staying at home.
Mocheake
They were looking for an excuse to cut service and give their taxis more business. The pandemic did them a favor.
Jim
This will in no direct way act as a protective measure / strategy to control corona infection rate! People will go out regardless of shorter train operating hours and actually will crowd up the last few trains or even stay out all night and get the early morning trains back home. All in all this strategy in fact might lead to more infections! Just like many other decisions made by old men in Japan, this one is also a farce!
WA4TKG
“Stay HOME”...
techall
As far as I know the 10:00 pm closing rule runs through January 11th. So you " clubbing all night " jackasses had better find another country to do it in.
ShinCebu
better than nothing.... Train is more "mitsu" than taxis. good also to help my taxi friends.
Alan Harrison
2) You can only spread the virus so much on a couple of trains
Acouple of trains is all it takes.
Laguna
There's always a last train.