<trimmage on general principle>
"John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4165F558.7020906@yahoo.com...
> I don't know if I've ever seen anything about the timeliness of trains
> in that era, from anywhere. Maybe it wasn't such an issue then. I've
> heard the German trains (or maybe Swiss) are best for being on time.

The punctuality of Japanese trains is awesome. Back when I lived in the real
Japan, I would ride in the (JR) train with my son at the very front (with
the otakus and other son-accompanied dads) so we could watch the drivers.

They have a table by their console, with a list of markers, and times in
15-second intervals. As the drivers pass each marker, they point to it with
one hand and put their finger on the corresponding time with the other.
Invariably, the times are correct to the second.

A lot of new visitors are amazed when station employees give them directions
for the train, saying "go to that platform and get on the train that arrives
at 2:37." The really amazing thing is that it works.

Not sure about BART, but the cars for Caltrain are made by a Japanese
company. Doesn't seem to help them run on time, although they seemed to be
within about 15 minutes -- and never left a station early.

-- 
Regards,
Ryan Ginstrom
ryang@gol.com