应对疫情冲击  日本新干线乘客海鲜一起运

受新冠肺炎疫情影响，日本新干线乘客大幅减少。为了降低影响，JR东日本公司从8月26日起一连三天进行试验，利用东北新干线空座将海鲜从仙台车站直接送往东京车站，以检验是否能够将这种运输模式商业化。

Commuters wearing protective masks head to work amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Osaka, Japan in this photo taken by Kyodo on May 21, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

Since the number of passengers on the Shinkansen has dropped significantly due to the new coronavirus, JR East has begun an experiment to transport fresh seafood from Miyagi prefecture to Tokyo for the first time using the seats on the Shinkansen.

由于新冠病毒的影响，日本新干线的乘客人数大幅下降，JR东日本公司开始了一项试验，首次利用新干线上的座位将新鲜海鲜从宫城县运送到东京。

Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the number of passengers on the Tohoku Shinkansen is only 30% of the same period last year as of last week.

受新冠疫情影响，截至上周，日本东北新干线上的乘客数量仅为去年同期的30%。

For this reason, JR East was the first to conduct an experiment to transport local specialty products to Tokyo using vacant seats.

为此，JR东日本公司率先进行了利用空座将当地特产运输到东京的试验。

On the 26th, squirts and oysters from Miyagi prefecture, which were landed on the morning of the same day, were transported to the Tohoku Shinkansen departing Sendai Station before 11:00 am.

8月26日上午11点前，来自宫城县的海蛸和牡蛎被运往东北新干线，驶离仙台站。这些海鲜都是当天上午捕捞的。

In the first car used for transportation, the two rows of seats were faced to each other, and the seafood was put in a special box to keep the air cool so that the freshness of the seafood was preserved.

在第一个用于运输的车厢里，两排座位是面对面的，海鲜用一个特殊的盒子运送以保持低温保鲜。

The Shinkansen arrived at Tokyo Station in about two hours, and was served as sashimi and vinegared food at the seafood restaurant on the premises after 2:00 pm.

大约两小时后，这辆新干线就抵达了东京站，下午2点后，站内的海鲜餐厅就开始供应生鱼片和醋味食品。

According to the fishermen who participated in the initiative, when it comes to transportation by truck, it often arrives in Tokyo the next day, but if you use the Shinkansen, you can shorten the time until it is provided at restaurants by a whole day.

据参与这一试验的渔民说，如果用卡车运输，海鲜通常会在第二天到达东京，但如果使用新干线，可以在一天之内就运输到餐馆并端上餐桌。

Tsuyoshi Hamada of the JR East supply chain management project said, "Since the Shinkansen is strong in speed and punctuality, we want to contribute to the community by carrying local products."

JR东日本公司供应链管理项目部的滨田津之说：“由于新干线的高速、准点，我们希望通过运输当地产品为社区做贡献。

An East Japan Railway Co Shinkansen bullet train approaches Omiya Station in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, July 27, 2017. [Photo/VCG]

The use of the Tohoku Shinkansen has dropped significantly due to the impact of the new coronavirus, and the number of passengers in May, when the emergency was announced, dropped to 10% of the same period last year.

由于新冠病毒的影响，东北新干线的上座率大幅下降，5月份日本宣布进入紧急状态时，乘客人数已降至去年同期的10%。

Since then, the number of passengers has been gradually recovering, but last week it remained at about 30% of the same period last year, and it is expected that this situation will continue for a long time.

此后，乘客数量逐渐恢复，但上周仍保持在去年同期的30%左右，预计这种情况将持续很长一段时间。

For this reason, JR East is extensively considering measures to compensate for the decline in revenues from the railway business, and as one of them, has begun an experiment to transport local specialty products to Tokyo by the Shinkansen.

为此，JR东日本公司正考虑采取多种措施弥补铁路业务收入的下降，作为其中一项措施，该公司已开始试验通过新干线将当地特产运输到东京。

JR will continue to verify the time required for transportation from the production area and aim to put it into practical use while also observing the reaction of passengers on the train.

JR东日本公司将继续确认从生产区域运输到目的地所需的时间，并开展实际运输，同时观察乘客的反应。

Hiromitsu Ito, president of the fishery industry Kaiyu, said, "Since freshness is the key to marine products, I think this is an epoch-making thing that will revolutionize logistics."

渔业企业凯宇的总裁伊藤宏光说：“由于新鲜是海产品的关键，我认为这是划时代的事情，将彻底改变物流业。”