Passengers on Japan’s high-speed “bullet train” will soon be able to play video games thanks to a service to be offered by Sony and train-operator East Japan Railway Co. (JR East).
From Oct. 1 through March 31, 2007, the two companies will offer customers in the first class compartments of the “Hayate” Tohoku Shinkansen trains the opportunity to borrow a PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld terminal and games for the duration of their journey. To keep the noise down, passengers will also be lent a pair of headphones.
To qualify for the service, customers must buy tickets at JR East ticket shops and obtain a coupon, which can be exchanged with the train guard to a PSP. The devices will be collected back 10 minutes before passengers reach their destination.
The Tohoku Shinkansen runs from Tokyo to destinations north of the capital city.
SMS: First class passengers on Japan’s high-speed “bullet train” will soon be able to borrow a PSP at no charge during the journey.