Eco-society forcing popular energy-eating train cars to depart

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15 Comments

ebisen at 07:46 AM JST - 26th June

Come on - just scrap that junk...
societymike at 10:45 AM JST - 26th June

yeah scrap them, or maybe replace the internals with up-to-date energy saving motors and use only a few as exibition on holidays or something.
yokomoc at 11:43 AM JST - 26th June

Good riddance to Chou line cars. Those things are fugly.
jaybeeb at 01:36 PM JST - 26th June

There is no reason why these cars can't be refurbished so that they are more energy efficient except for the fact the scrapping them is good for the economy.

It would be nice if this article had some information on the energy savings of replacing these cars, not that any such figures would likely take into account the complete costs of manufacturing rail cars from scratch.

The eco buzz word, as it is used to describe replacing older less efficient products, is ridiculous because nobody seems to consider the complete costs on manufacturing a new product, nor are the environmental costs of disposing of the old product considered.
sf2k at 02:13 PM JST - 26th June

The commuters seem oblivious that the problem was too much energy use. This was preceived as a colour problem!!??

@jaybeeb, likely weight is a factor of energy savings too. So if a train is lighter using modern steel and aluminum that was not available in 1961 then that is passed on to less energy load required to move the train. Less repairs and maintenance as well. No mention of the maintenance schedule differences either.

yes I wonder what happened to the old cars, but if they are recycled that might help.
mrsynik at 05:53 PM JST - 26th June

A lot of them won't be scrapped immediately. Many of them will be cascaded onto Local trains operating on main branch lines outside of Tokyo and Osaka. Many of the once common 115 series that used to operate in Central Tokyo are still easy to find running out in the countryside.
JeffLee at 06:39 PM JST - 26th June

I request that every passenger seat has arm rests.
usaexpat at 11:01 PM JST - 26th June

Why can't the new cars be just as distinctive? The train buff who urged that cars be preserved for special events is right. There are a lot of rail fans who will pay for excusrions if there is a sense of nostalgia.
KnowBetter at 03:18 AM JST - 27th June

How about we start scrapping people who consume non-eco friendly foods? Where will this madness stop? If you look under the eco-rug you'll see that this whole save the planet chant is nothing more than a business plan to make a select few VERY rich. Instead of scrapping the trains out right they could on the older trains which were built to last for ever just upgrade the 'electrics'. Today's trains are built with a 'throw away before date' and that CAN'T be an eco-friendly choice now could it?
Molenir at 05:49 AM JST - 27th June

There is no reason why these cars can't be refurbished so that they are more energy efficient except for the fact the scrapping them is good for the economy.

Actually the cost long term is more, as it costs more to build a new car then to refurbish an old one.

If you look under the eco-rug you'll see that this whole save the planet chant is nothing more than a business plan to make a select few VERY rich.

I think you're both right and wrong at the same time. The select few will become wealthy, however the socialists are using this as a vehicle for the old class warfare, redistribution of wealth, take from the rich, and try to make everyone equal. Equality of outcome is important to them. Everyone needs to be ground down to the same level, or else life isn't fair. Well, everyone except for them of course.
Aska at 08:28 AM JST - 27th June

Screw that. They should make trains made out of carbon fiber.
DeepAir65 at 09:11 AM JST - 27th June

A growing number of aging train cars are being replaced with new and more energy-efficient models in Japan as railway companies move to cut operating costs and seek a more environmentally friendly system.

I think the key is cutting operating costs - eco is just a secondary and useful marketing
mareo2 at 04:15 PM JST - 27th June

I live in Aichi and I think that 98% of we regular users are not going to miss 7000-series Panorama Car. That is just a train for tourists with second level with a better view for a few pasengers that pay extra. In fact, I think that we can use something like double-decker cars for increase seat capacity in the limited express lines.
rjaspl at 12:22 AM JST - 28th June

Walking is good, no color problem or electrial usage problem and I have a great view. Just need a few days and a big lunch bag to make it from point "a" to pomt 'b'.
Kwaabish at 10:36 AM JST - 2nd July

A lot of the old rolling stock are donated or sold for heavy discount to developing countries. For example, you can see old Tokyu trains running in Indonesia and some old Marunouchi Line subway cars are running in Buenos Aires in its original colours (and even internal labels/signs are still in Japanese).