Why Japanese Trains Are Always on Time

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1. 01Why Japanese Trains Are Always on Time

   Hello, everyone. If you have ridden a train in Japan, you probably noticed something: it arrives exactly on time. Today, I'll explain why Japanese trains are so punctual.

   大家好。如果你在日本坐过火车，你大概会注意到一件事：火车总是准时到站。今天，我来解释一下为什么日本的火车这么准时。

2. 02How On Time Are They?

   For example, in fiscal 2016, trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen were only twenty-four seconds late on average, even including delays from heavy rain and earthquakes. In big cities, many trains come every few minutes, and they still stay on schedule.

   比如，在2016财年，东海道新干线的列车平均只晚点二十四秒，这还包括了暴雨和地震造成的延误。在大城市，很多列车每隔几分钟就来一趟，却仍然能按时刻表运行。

   Source: JR Central data for fiscal 2016, reported in Nippon.com, "The Tōkaidō Shinkansen's World-Class Safety, Reliability, and Frequency"

3. 03A Famous Apology

   Being on time is so important that, in 2017, a train company apologized because a train left twenty seconds early. The story surprised people all over the world.

   准时被看得非常重要。2017年，一家铁路公司因为一趟列车提前二十秒发车而公开道歉。这件事让全世界的人都感到很惊讶。

   Source: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company (Tsukuba Express), apology in November 2017

4. 04Reason 1: Careful Planning

   The first reason is careful planning. Timetables are planned in great detail, and companies build in a little extra time for small problems.

   第一个原因是周密的计划。时刻表规划得非常详细，而且公司会预留一点额外的时间，用来应对小问题。

5. 05Reason 2: Skilled Staff

   The second reason is skilled staff. Train drivers go through long training, and many staff use a method called pointing and calling: they point at a signal and say it out loud to avoid mistakes.

   第二个原因是工作人员技术熟练。列车司机要接受很长时间的培训，而且很多工作人员会使用一种叫“指差确认”的方法：他们用手指着信号，并大声说出来，以避免出错。

6. 06Reason 3: A Culture of Being on Time

   The third reason is culture. In Japan, many people see being on time as a way of respecting others. Passengers expect trains to be punctual, so companies work hard to meet that expectation.

   第三个原因是文化。在日本，很多人把守时看作是尊重别人的一种方式。乘客希望列车准时，所以公司会努力达到这个期待。

7. 07Conclusion

   To sum up, Japanese trains are on time because of careful planning, skilled staff, and a strong culture of punctuality. Next time you ride one, check your watch! Thank you.

   总结一下，日本的火车之所以准时，是因为周密的计划、熟练的工作人员，以及重视守时的文化。下次你坐日本的火车时，看看你的手表吧！谢谢大家。