JR Central Tests Peliharaan Animal Friendly Shinkansen Train Service

Shinkansen illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Kubotake)

JAKARTA - Central Japan Railway Co. last month announced plans to conduct a pet-friendly train test at Tokaido Shinkansen, Japan's busiest bullet train line connecting Tokyo and Osaka, allowing passengers to travel without having to take their dogs into cages.

"We want to respond to requests from people who want to enjoy a trip with their favorite dogs," said Central JR President Shunsuke Niwa in an interview with a number of media organizations, quoted from Kyodo News on February 20.

This will be the second trial for the shinkansen service, after previously this service was carried out by East Japan Railway Co.

Pet-friendly carriages will be equipped with air cleaners and pet toilet supplies to maintain cleanliness in carriages, as quoted by The Mainichi.

The company also plans to ensure carriages are not used for public passenger services after trials, said President Niwa.

With the start of the World Expo in Osaka in April which is expected to attract many visitors from Tokyo, the company will also introduce additional Nozomi bullet train services in the morning from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka Station on weekends.

"Supporting customer travel is the biggest contribution we can make" to the success of the exhibition, said President Niwa.

The president also revealed plans to introduce a new type of train carriage on the Yamanashi maglev test track for the Chuo Shinkansen Linear project around this summer with the aim of reducing environmental impacts.

However, President Niwa is careful about whether the Linear Chuo Shinkansen service between Tokyo and Osaka can be fully opened according to the government's target in 2037.

"We can't have a clear picture right now," he said.