THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 26, 2020 at 16:09 JST
Wheelchairs can be placed beside passenger seats on the N700S series Shinkansen. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
People who use wheelchairs will be able to make online reservations for seats on Shinkansen bullet trains, including same-day bookings, the transport ministry said.
Under the current system for many Shinkansen, reservations for seats with enough space for wheelchairs can be made only via phone or at station counters. Those reservations must be made at least a day before the travel.
Japan Railway companies will also stop selling unreserved seats designated for wheelchair users to the general public on the day of travel.
Transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba announced the changes at a news conference on March 3, after the government reached agreements with the JR companies.
He also said the ministry plans to oblige railway companies to install “free space for wheelchair users” on bullet trains so that groups can take in the view from a window without having to leave their wheelchairs.
(This article was written by Shun Niekawa and Ayateru Hosozawa.)
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