Kansai railway practices- standing drivers

[bikkuri bahn]

Kansai private railways exude a character different from railways in other regions of Japan, one of the reasons they are my favorites. One thing I noticed and thought odd at first was on the Hankyu, where drivers occasionally stood up from their seats momentarily while the train was in motion, and then sitting down.  Obviously not merely a stretch, but something more methodical. It turns out this practice is also done on the Hanshin and Sanyo Railways, and is performed whenever a yellow signal is encountered, equivalent to point and call, but more physically demonstrative.

 

This shows a trainee driver on a Hanshin train, a local bound for Kosoku Kobe, she stands for the yellow signal at 0:48:

[cteno4]

Interesting! im wondering if its to also get a different angle on the signal to make sure of how its lit (ie glare etc) as well as just another way to make sure you dont get into a zone trance. probably helps just keep the driver more alert overall instead of sitting the whole time.

 

jeff

[CaptOblivious]

Very interesting! I don't think I saw this behavior ever on any of the express Hankyu trains I took between Osaka and Kyoto.

[bikkuri bahn]

Very interesting! I don't think I saw this behavior ever on any of the express Hankyu trains I took between Osaka and Kyoto.

 

It may be that the faster services rarely encounter a yellow, I almost always ride the locals, then I saw this action a few times. You tend to get a better idea of the operations and passenger traffic of a line when you take the "stopper" rather than the train that highballs through the stations.

[Davo Dentetsu]

I guess numb bum syndrome would kick in after a while. :D

[The_Ghan]

She really does jump up, doesn't she!  As if she almost forgot!

 

Still, chicks driving trains ... that's my bag, baby!

 

Cheers

 

The_Ghan