NY Subways Are Empty Compared to This!

SeaBreeze

Endlessly Groovin'
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Go on, git in there! :D More here.


The Japanese rail network is known throughout the world for its superiority and punctuality. In the capital city Tokyo, nearly 40 million passengers ride the rail every day, heavily outweighing other modes of transport like buses and private cars. Of these, 22% or 8.7 million take the subway.The Tokyo subway network is a transportation marvel.

On most lines, trains come every 5 minutes apart, on average, and during peak times, they tend to run every 2-3 minutes. That’s about 24 trains per hour going in one direction. Despite so many trains, the subway is extremely overcrowded, especially during rush hour. This page from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has data (from 2007) detailing the level of congestion at different stations of Tokyo’s subway.

As you can see, nearly all of them run at over capacity with a few running at 200% over rated capacity.

tokyo-subway-pushers-42.jpg

"Oshiya" or "pushers" at Tokyo's Shinjuku station trying to pack as many passengers as possible into the carriages during rush hour in 1967. Photo credit: CNN

In order to fit twice the number of passengers into a subway carriage, the stations employ uniformed staff known as oshiya or “pusher”, whose goal is to cram as many people as possible into the subway tram.

These white glove-wearing personal actually pushes people into the train, so the doors can be shut. This is so surreal, it has to be seen to be believed.

 

Oy that I grew up on the New York subways. You know what would happen if even one uniformed guy showed up to stuff people in the door?
The first people he put his hands on would jump out and start swinging.
The people in back of them would join in the fight.
The next wave of people would check their phones and wander off for another train.
A team of lawyers would hop on the platform handing out their cards.
The Guardian Angels would be trying to get people to leave quietly before the police come.
The uniformed gentleman who tried to do his job and push people in?
They never found a trace of him.
 

Oy that I grew up on the New York subways. You know what would happen if even one uniformed guy showed up to stuff people in the door?
The first people he put his hands on would jump out and start swinging.
The people in back of them would join in the fight.
The next wave of people would check their phones and wander off for another train.
A team of lawyers would hop on the platform handing out their cards.
The Guardian Angels would be trying to get people to leave quietly before the police come.
The uniformed gentleman who tried to do his job and push people in?
They never found a trace of him.

Come on Fur, wasn't it more like this? :p

 
Love the video! That subway thing has stayed on my mind since I read it--I hope I don't have nightmares about it! Funny, I keep thinking would it be best to go early and get on first, be sandwiched in the middle or having someone pushing your butt into an already crowded train?
 


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