They disappeared more than 20 years ago, but now they're back. Private cabins on Japan's Shinkansen high-speed trains are set to make a comeback. It will nevertheless be not before fiscal year 2026according to a recent announcement by Central Japan Railway Co.
The line to be equipped will be the one linking Tokyo in Hakataa suburb of Fukuokathe major metropolis in south-west Japan, on the island of Kyushu. A journey that takes almost five hours which links all the major Japanese cities. And more, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima before reaching Fukuoka.
Future private cabins will have all the trappings of a bedroom. Each will feature a wide, special reclining seat with a footrest. It will remind some travellers of airline sleeper seats. They will be able to access Wi-Fi and adjust the lighting, air conditioning and audio to their preferences.
Central Japan Railway Co. plans to install two private rooms by high-speed trainIn fact, the operator is seeking to meet a growing demand for more luxury and intimacy when travelling by train.
The railway company believes thataround 10 % of the 130 or so Shinkansen trains could be equipped with private roomsEach can accommodate one or two passengers. All that remains is to be patient until 2026.
