In 2021, some commuters in Fukuoka and Oita areas felt that something was wrong on a train. They found large spaces next to doors, and they wondered if such spaces existed ever before. Then, they realised that there were less seats than before the pandemic began. Many people accuse JR Kyushu of deteriorating service quality, while a few others defend the company.
The controversial seat removal has been taken place on 813 series, the most common train type in northern Kyushu. Local newspaper Nishinippon Shimbun reported the issue earlier this year, which this blog article mainly relies on. According to the newspaper, up to 40% of seats have been removed from a fleet.
Fewer seats simply means less likely to get a seat, but it also provides standing capacity and leads to more efficient operation. To be specific, a carriage with reduced seats gives 20% more capacity in total. In that case, a nine-car train can be shortened to eight or seven coaches while the overall capacity remains unchanged, and it must be an attractive option for JR Kyushu amid a decline in revenue caused by COVID-19 pandemic.
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It might satisfy the company, but many commuters and students are discontented with the seat reduction. They mourn that they can no longer take a seat on a stressful journey to and from their workplaces or schools. It is also said that the train has got colder in winter than before, as JR Kyushu removed heaters under the seats. Meanwhile, a few others insist that wheelchair and pram users feel easier to be on a train than before.
Many people condemn the reduction and suspect that JR Kyushu just wants to cut expenditures by reducing the number of carriages. However, the company contends the view, and argues that the seat removal was necessary to allow smoother boarding and alighting especially during rush hours. Unlike commuters and students in other major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, those in Fukuoka have been notorious for behaving badly on a train, as most people always stand in front of doors and never move down inside the train. The sticker above reads "do not sit on a floor", which is very rare outside Kyushu as it is a well-known unwritten norm.
JR Kyushu is going to reduce seats on 153 out of 246 carriages of the 813 series by September 2022. The company will also enhance heater capability to keep the trains warm enough in winter.
JR Kyushu has been criticised that their services are getting inconvenient in recent years, and the seat reduction is unpopular among many passengers. However, it must not be forgotten that passengers are partly responsible for it, and they should learn from commuters in Tokyo and Osaka.
