Bullet train to become more barrier-free

September 8 , 2020

On August 28, a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism review board moved to expand the number of wheelchair slots on a single Shinkansen bullet train coach, increasing it from a maximum of two now to as many as six from the fall of 2020. In addition, wheelchair users will be able to reserve and purchase tickets over the Net for the first time. Minister Kazuyoshi Akaba, who is a Komeito member, has been working to make bullet trains barrier-free since December 2019, setting up the review board to coordinate with the respective Japan Railways corporations and organizations for the physically challenged. Komeito has also held hearings with these groups, calling for a similar outcome.

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