The downside of punctuality
April 27th, 2005
This International Herald Tribune story about the probable cause of Monday’s big rail crash in Japan points out the downside of the obsession with punctuality I mentioned the other week.
AMAGASAKI, Japan Anywhere else in the world, a train running 90 seconds late would perhaps be considered on time. But in Japan, 90 seconds would foil commuters who depend on trains’ connecting to one another with balletic precision, often with only a couple of minutes to spare.
And so to make up for a lost 90 seconds, a 23-year-old train engineer, it has become increasingly clear, was speeding when his train jumped off the tracks at a curve here in western Japan and hurtled into a nine-story apartment building on Monday morning. […]
The article makes it clear that there were other contributory factors, such as the tendency for there to be very small gaps - on the order of three feet in some instances - between trains and buildings adjacent to the track, leaving no room whatsoever for accidents to happen, but it seems that severe timetable pressure was a major issue.
Something for me to remember when I’m on the train tomorrow if I’m running five minutes late when I get to Birmingham…
[Via Tin Ear]
April 29th, 2005 at 12:58 am
Punctuality is overrated, while some cultures (mediteranian mostly) go too far the other way we’re all a little too obsessed with punctuality. That doesn’t mean the transport in this country shouldn’t be more punctual but there needs to be some leeway for the sake of saftey and less stress
October 10th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
i totaly agree being on time is overated
October 10th, 2006 at 4:03 pm
And its dangerous to be in a hurry