Japanese Ministry Releases Numerical Data on Comfort of Public Transportation System

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Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released in March 2011 numerical data that, as of the end of fiscal 2010, indicate the level of comfort and ease of use of the public transportation system in the Kinki region, the mid-western part of Japan's main island home to Kyoto, Osaka and other major cities. The data are based on an evaluation indicator called "Index of Comfortable and Easeful public transportation," which was proposed by the Ministry in March 2004 to encourage companies to make the public transportation system easier and more comfortable to use.

The disclosed data covers the efforts of seven railroad companies (23 lines) and nine bus companies in the region. Their efforts are quantified in nine different categories: "Easy to use" includes the rate of peak-hour congestion and percentage of low-floor buses that have been introduced. "Comfortable to use" reflects the percentage of trains equipped with high-performance air conditioners that have a dehumidification function. "Easy to understand " includes the percentage of platforms equipped with information boards that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Each company decides for itself which categories to focus investment in. In this sense, the indicator's purpose is not to compare different companies' achievements but rather to indicate trends in the investments of each company in a way that is easy to understand. The Ministry plans to release the numerical data every year to provide the public with information about the companies' approaches to improving the comfort and ease of use of the public transportation system.

Posted: 2011/07/22 06:00:15 AM