Luxury travel

The picture look like the seats are in Green Class. The Gran Class seats are usually (or always?) covered in leather/leatherette material. Wondering if JR Rail Pass is applied on these new trains?

Ano, if the JRP isn't allowed on the GranClass on JR East trains, ypu have to pay full fare minue base fare, you think they're going to allow the pass on these JR Tokai trains? Remember, it's the N700 and I'm sure they'll use them for the Nozomi service first, making your point moot.

Meanwhile, here in The States, a huge lobbying campaign has been in place forever to convince people that bullet trains are a bad idea. Guess which political party agrees with the lobbyists?

I'd ride that for a dollar!

Meanwhile, here in The States, a huge lobbying campaign has been in place forever to convince people that bullet trains are a bad idea. Guess which political party agrees with the lobbyists?

Sounds like the Democrats.

I was always under the impression that in Japan, leather was considered less refined than cotton or wool as the noise it can make when you move on it could be considered rude, where as fabric seats are much more silent and dignified.