Japanese rail industry responds to power crisis

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The Japanese rail industry is reducing train services and lighting at stations on many electrified routes to conserve the country’s dwindling power supply following the huge earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in March, damaging much of Japan’s power generating capability.

This is the nation’s first mandatory power saving drive for 37 years and those who intentionally break the restriction face a fine of up to 1 million yen.

‘Setsuden’, or energy saving, is the new buzz word in Japanese society as everyone pulls together to help their country through this difficult time.

The restrictions came into force in late June and will run until at least September.

Relations between Japan and China have turned ‘decidedly frosty’ following allegations that China has infringed Japanese intellectual property rights in the construction of its new high speed trains and attempted to patent it as their own.

Patenting high speed technology, is seen as the first step in China’s ambition to export the technology overseas.

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