Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early

Re:Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early by seanmcdirmid on Thursday November 16, 2017 @01:39PM (#15715260)

There are many systems that just go with frequency rather than a schedule, which works more efficiently for routes with lots of trips. I’m surprised Japan uses a schedule, but maybe it’s just for inter city service and not say subways?

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Re:Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early by JBlue42 on Thursday November 16, 2017 @01:48PM (#15715332)

Which is fine as long as that frequency is frequent enough that waiting people aren't suffering, right?

There was a discussion on reddit recently talking about this issue in context of LA's buses. People don't mind if the bus is on time if there's one every 5-10 minutes but in non-rush hour times, having to wait 20+ min at a stop is too long.

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Re:Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early by khedoros1 on Thursday November 16, 2017 @08:12PM (#15718208)

If I'm remembering correctly, it's literally a schedule. They give you a minute-precision schedule on an electronic sign: http://images.freeimages.com/images/previews/c5b/jr-train-st...

In normal situations, the arrival time doesn't change, and the train pulls in within seconds of the right time. It is startlingly precise (to someone used to American transit), even during high traffic times in the middle of Tokyo.

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Re:Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early by marak830 on Thursday November 16, 2017 @03:30PM (#15716312)

There are schedules for the subways, but also a very high frequency for trains.

Off the top of my head, during busy hours for me going towards Tokyo there would be a train every 5-8 minutes. (And there are multiple lines, although I'm quite far out, so they condense as they get closer).

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