Wednesday 2 February 2022

Child-rearing Support Space on the Subway Train

Child-rearing support space ("Thomas and friends") on the EMU Toei 12-600 series

Does anyone like subways? To be honest, I don't like them so much. Subway trains are annoying for rail photo lovers like me. The problem is its dark environment. It's almost impossible to take train photos on underground tracks. That's why I often get tired of taking subway lines.

I found that the same kind of humans exist on the subway trains besides rail photo lovers. They are kids. Their problem is the same as that of rail photo lovers. Kids can't enjoy looking at scenes from the subway train window, because it's dark. They are soon weary of boarding subway trains, and start crying. As a result, parents will hesitate to take subway lines with children being afraid of trouble for other passengers.

Wait a second, mom and dad! Please take the subway Ooedo line if you go out with your children next time. You'll find special corners named "Child-rearing support spaces" on the train. There are two kinds of corners, the one with "Thomas & Friends" and the one with "Gurumpa's Kindergarten". The former is decorated with the characters of the popular British television series; while the latter depicts a famous Japanese picture book. Currently, nine sets of the EMU Toei 12-600 series have Child-rearing support spaces. They are in Car 3 and 6 of each set. Toei kindly discloses the timetable of the trains with Child-rearing support spaces on their website for passengers with children.

Child-rearing support space... it's so considerate to mom and dad.

EMU Toei 12-600 series stands at Tocho-mae station on the Ooedo line

Official information about the Child-rearing support space (in Japanese):