- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
Train enthusiasts are excited at the opportunity to own a food cart that once graced the aisles of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line. And the price? A mere 100,000 JPY (approximately USD 666) per cart.
Last October, JR Tokai halted its catering cart service between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. Around 50 disused food carts were made available for sale as part of their plan. The response was overwhelming, with nearly 50 purchase requests per cart, primarily from train buffs.
These carts were thoughtfully designed with safety and mobility in mind. Interestingly, some schools have even expressed interest in using these carts to deliver school lunches to classrooms.
About 350 food carts previously used on the Tokaido Line became obsolete last October. While some have been transferred to other companies operating bullet trains, approximately 50 better-condition carts were put up for sale. Purchase orders were accepted starting in late January, with a price tag of 100,000 JPY per cart and a limit of two carts per customer. However, by the 5 February deadline, there were a whopping 1,942 requests to purchase 2,432 food carts. The odds of winning the lottery for each cart were approximately 48.6 times.
JR Central Retailing Plus Co. is handling the sale of these carts. Interestingly, they've received purchase orders from schools, and ordinary households are eager to display them as decorative items or even incorporate them into their kitchens. These carts could carry about 50 kilograms of food and drink down the aisles while the bullet train sped along at high speeds. Safety features included rear brakes that automatically locked when the cart pusher released their hands from the lever, and the front wheel could be manoeuvred to overcome uneven surfaces between train carriages.
A JR Central Retailing Plus representative shared, "Rather than simply discarding them after many years of service, we thought the public might want to take a crack at owning these carts. We hope those who purchase one find a good use for them."
Last October, JR Tokai halted its catering cart service between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations. Around 50 disused food carts were made available for sale as part of their plan. The response was overwhelming, with nearly 50 purchase requests per cart, primarily from train buffs.
These carts were thoughtfully designed with safety and mobility in mind. Interestingly, some schools have even expressed interest in using these carts to deliver school lunches to classrooms.
About 350 food carts previously used on the Tokaido Line became obsolete last October. While some have been transferred to other companies operating bullet trains, approximately 50 better-condition carts were put up for sale. Purchase orders were accepted starting in late January, with a price tag of 100,000 JPY per cart and a limit of two carts per customer. However, by the 5 February deadline, there were a whopping 1,942 requests to purchase 2,432 food carts. The odds of winning the lottery for each cart were approximately 48.6 times.
JR Central Retailing Plus Co. is handling the sale of these carts. Interestingly, they've received purchase orders from schools, and ordinary households are eager to display them as decorative items or even incorporate them into their kitchens. These carts could carry about 50 kilograms of food and drink down the aisles while the bullet train sped along at high speeds. Safety features included rear brakes that automatically locked when the cart pusher released their hands from the lever, and the front wheel could be manoeuvred to overcome uneven surfaces between train carriages.
A JR Central Retailing Plus representative shared, "Rather than simply discarding them after many years of service, we thought the public might want to take a crack at owning these carts. We hope those who purchase one find a good use for them."
