By KOHEI KANO/ Staff Writer
November 15, 2020 at 18:14 JST
The N700S series model Shinkansen, which went into service in July (Provided by Central Japan Railway Co.)
Train buffs who have been derailed this year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic can be back in the driver's seat, thanks to Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai).
Tours allowing participants to enter the driver’s cab of the N700S series of Shinkansen, which debuted in July, are being offered.
It's the first time that JR Tokai has opened the cockpit of a bullet train that was recently put in service to the public.
The tours, which will be available for a limited number of participants in January, followed the cancellation of annual tours to allow train buffs to see its Hamamatsu factory in Hamamatsu amid the pandemic.
Instead, JR Tokai, which operates the Tokaido Shinkansen Line services, sought to provide fans opportunities to see the railway company’s other facilities--Oi rail yard in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward and Torikai rail yard in Settsu, Osaka Prefecture, in addition to the Hamamatsu factory in special tours.
There are two different tours that depart the Tokyo metropolitan area: One will be held on Jan. 9, when 160 can ride a bullet train and see the rail yard in Osaka Prefecture. JR Tokai will run a special train to transport the tour participants to the depot.
The other, which will be held on Jan. 23, will allow 480 participants to tour the Hamamatsu factory.
People who can look around the Oi rail yard on Jan. 17 will be limited to those who book a tour departing from the Kansai or Chubu region.
Participants aged 6 or older will be eligible for these tours.
A JR Tokai official said the risk of infection with the coronavirus in the tours is low because the air inside a bullet train is circulated every six to eight minutes.
JR Tokai said some travel agencies have already sold out their slots for the tours.
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