Comparison of Chinese and Japanese High-Speed Rail:
Main Disadvantages of Shinkansen (Japanese High-Speed Rail):
1. Stability:
- Shinkansen cabins noticeably sway, making it difficult for coins to stand upright and even challenging for mineral water bottles to remain steady.
2. Noise Isolation:
- Shinkansen experiences significant wind and road noise, measured at approximately 77 decibels in tests.
3. Speed:
- While certain sections of the Shinkansen can reach 320 km/h, most routes operate at speeds capped around 280 km/h or 260 km/h.
Comparison with Chinese High-Speed Rail:
- Chinese high-speed trains generally operate at speeds up to 350 km/h, with trains below 300 km/h categorized as "Dongche" (multiple units), priced about one-third cheaper than Japan's "local lines."
4. Price:
- The Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka spans 528 km, with a second-class ticket priced at ¥14,000 (approximately ¥650 RMB), averaging about ¥1.25 per km.
- In contrast, the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway covers 1,302 km, with a second-class ticket priced at ¥553 RMB, averaging about ¥0.42 per km.
- A ticket on the Tokaido Shinkansen costs three times as much as the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, even after accounting for yen depreciation. The per capita GDP along the Tokaido line is at most twice that of Beijing-Shanghai.
- Consequently, even Japanese people may not find the Shinkansen easily affordable. There are many budget airlines between Tokyo and Osaka. Although flying requires additional transportation fees and time, the overall airfare is still much cheaper.
Summary:
- The Shinkansen is inferior to Chinese high-speed rail in stability, noise isolation, speed, and price.
5. Other Disadvantages:
- Shinkansen attendants do not inspect luggage placed on the top shelves, risking items falling down.
- Many passengers remove their shoes upon boarding, which, though not particularly odorous, is nonetheless off-putting.
- Power outlets are located overhead rather than under seats, making aisle-side charging inconvenient.
- Tickets are mostly paper-based, with no electronic alternatives; even the JR Pass lacks digital archives, with significant losses in case of misplacement.
- Japan's station facilities seem antiquated, with low levels of information technology.
Main Advantages of Shinkansen:
1. Convenience and Food Quality:
- Japanese train bento boxes are diverse, delicious, and affordable.
- There are private shops selling bento boxes on platforms and roaming individual sellers, as well as railway bento sales onboard, with prices comparable to regular stores.
- In comparison, Chinese high-speed rail box meal quality is relatively poor.
2. Clean Restrooms:
- Shinkansen toilets, though old, are exceptionally clean and odor-free.
- In contrast, Chinese high-speed rail toilets only stay tidy during initial train delivery, gradually becoming dirty.
3. Reasonable Station Design:
- Japanese stations are simple yet practical, with well-planned traffic flows that spare passengers unnecessary detours.
- Station commercial support is excellent, with items priced similarly to those in cities, and platforms featuring convenience stores or vending machines, facilitating passenger food purchases while waiting.
- Conversely, Chinese train stations, while grand in appearance, often have poorly designed traffic flows, requiring passengers to walk long distances, particularly in hot summer temperatures that cause discomfort indoors.
Other Advantages of Shinkansen:
- Good Service Attitude: Shinkansen service personnel display a humble attitude, squatting to converse with passengers.
- Low Noise: There is minimal noise from passengers playing short videos or watching dramas.
- Dedicated Phone Rooms: Many trains offer dedicated telephone rooms for passenger convenience.
- Disabled-Friendly Design: Many features are designed to be more accessible to disabled individuals.
- Smoking Rooms: Smoking rooms on platforms prevent passengers from smoking immediately upon disembarking.
Neutral Points of Shinkansen:
- No Security Checks: Japanese stations lack security checks, allowing passengers to carry items freely. Although the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack resulted in significant casualties, such incidents occur only once every few decades, negligible compared to total passenger numbers. Therefore, substantial human resources are not used for security checks.
- Ticket Inspection and Seat Assignment: Tickets are inspected only when entering the train station, with occasional checks onboard, making ticket evasion relatively easy. Carriages are divided into free seats and assigned seats, with the former offering no seat numbers and available on a first-come, first-served basis, while the latter is similar to China's system, requiring seat assignments.
- Formal Politeness: Train attendants bow to passengers every time they pass through the carriage, a formal politeness perceived as more polite than rudeness.
Conclusion:
Chinese and Japanese high-speed rail each have their strengths and weaknesses. Shinkansen lags behind Chinese high-speed rail in stability, noise isolation, speed, and price, yet excels in service quality, delicious bento, and station design.
Chinese high-speed rail shines in ticket prices, speed, and modern facilities but still has room for improvement in service details and station design.
These pros and cons reflect the distinct cultures and operational philosophies of both countries.
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