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Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

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Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#3
post #2

Well it's not that much different from a school bus that only picks up a single student at a particular bus stop, right?

a) The primary function of a school bus is to pick up children. The Railways have different priorities.

b) Of course, way more expensive (operationally and financially) to run a train and maintain a railway line.

Add: This story made my day.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#4
post #2

Well it's not that much different from a school bus that only picks up a single student at a particular bus stop, right?

That's a really good analogy. No one's manning the station and the structure already exists so the marginal cost is pretty low.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#5
post #3
post #2

Well it's not that much different from a school bus that only picks up a single student at a particular bus stop, right?

a) The primary function of a school bus is to pick up children. The Railways have different priorities. b) Of course, way more expensive (operationally and financially) to run a train and maintain a railway line. Add: This story made my day.

Technically it just says the station is closing. It's possible the line will remain operational. (The train might be going by there anyway.) Although it did say the schedule was adjusted for the student, so maybe not.

Edit, ah, so I guess a bunch of trains go by, and adjusting the schedule basically means deciding which trains stop at that station, not changing when trains run.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#6
post #2

Well it's not that much different from a school bus that only picks up a single student at a particular bus stop, right?

considering the time it takes to decelerate, stop, accelerate, making this stop adds at least a full minute or minute and a half to one way journey.

Everybody who is taking the train during the same leg as her, is essentially chipping in 1 minute of their time to support her transportation.

And I think that's just beautiful.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#7
Only girl in the village? They are going to close the line when she graduates. Therefore we can surmise there aren't any other younger girls. So much for having a social life. There are parts of Japan where children just aren't around anymore. Towns are becoming extended retirement homes. That's the truly depressing side of this story.

At least this is happening today, when the few remaining kids in such situations can connect via technology.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#9
post #5
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a) The primary function of a school bus is to pick up children. The Railways have different priorities. b) Of course, way more expensive (operationally and financially) to run a train and maintain a railway line. Add: This story made my day.

Technically it just says the station is closing. It's possible the line will remain operational. (The train might be going by there anyway.) Although it did say the schedule was adjusted for the student, so maybe not. Edit, ah, so I guess a bunch of trains go by, and adjusting the schedule basically means deciding which trains stop at that station, not changing when trains run.

Japanese Twitter tells me that once this station closes, there will be a 40 minute section of the railway that won't have any stops.

The line itself will remain operational.

Re: Japan Keeps This Defunct Train Station Running for Just One Passenger

#10

Only girl in the village? They are going to close the line when she graduates. Therefore we can surmise there aren't any other younger girls. So much for having a social life. There are parts of Japan where children just aren't around anymore. Towns are becoming extended retirement homes. That's the truly depressing side of this story. At least this is happening today, when the few remaining kids in such situations c…

She she does travel to high school, so presumably she sees kids her age regularly. And presumably she also has access to the rest of the public transportation that does not go the the highschool (unless she is the only one in the town to use public transportation to go anywhere), so she can still socialize in other places.

Plus, she can socialize with people not her age.

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