月曜日。電化された CalTrain に乗ってきました♪
朝９時半ごろ。ホームの電光掲示板には…
こんど：11 分遅れ
つ ぎ： 8 分遅れ
という、普通に遅れる表示が出ていました。（東京風の訳ｗ。ホントは英語）
でも実際は５分遅れくらいでやってきました。
電化されても、電光掲示板は相変わらずあてになりません。てか、電車に置き換えしている最中なので普段より遅れる。最大で 20 分は遅れる。と言い訳をしています。速い車輌になるのに、なんで遅れるの！？
その言い訳アナウンスが毎朝５時半から夜24時半まで聞こえてくる我が家…(怒)
さらに、北行きホームのエレベータは故障中だというアナウンスも毎分で。(怒)
次の停車駅、ミルブレーでさっさと降りました。
銀座線のように第参軌道で動く車輌ですが、メトロに分類されます。
従ってミシシッピ川より西の『電車』は CalTrain が最初。なんだかなぁ。
サンフランシスコ空港、国際線ターミナルのＧゲート側４階に着きます。
今度から国際線ターミナルは電車で、国内線なら 292 系統のバス。と使い分けます。
ホントは…シニアだとバスは１ドルぽっきりで乗れるからバスの方が好きなんです。
１ドルのバスに乗って空港へ。ビジネスクラスで国際線♪…という落差を愉しみたい。ｗ
さて… BART は空港駅でスイッチバックして、そのままサンフランシスコ市内へ。
§
BART で市内へ向かったホントの理由は、無駄遣い♪
パウウェル駅で降りて、１ブロック歩いて… スヲッチというおもちゃ屋さんへ。
無事に在庫があって、ブランパン×スヲッチ の黒い奴を購入♪
ステキ！ 400 ドル＋税 で２万ドルの時計にソックリ！！
しかもパチじゃない！！(爆)
いま、オメガのムーンスヲッチとか、そのへんのシリーズにハマっています。
黒いスヌーピーを装着していたので、寄ってきたスヲッチの店長さんと少し雑談♪
“Bioceramic is sustainable, eco-friendly and earth conscious. Even the straps are made from used fishermen's nets. Right?”
“Exactly. You know our products very well, sir.”
“The best part I love is… when it’s broken, it can’t be serviced hence going to the landfill.”
環境に優しい素材を使っているのに、壊れたら修理できないから埋め立てゴミに直行。
店長に指摘したら、バカウケしました。(爆)
今日のお買い物で、コレクションはこうなりました。（Mission to Mercury は背嚢に保管中）
ブランパンのNATOストラップもラバーストラップに交換予定で、既に注文済み。水曜に受領予定♪
さて… オメガにブランパン… 次に穢されるスヲッチグループの高級ブランドはどれ？
・・・ブレゲ？(爆)
車内を見廻して、広告がとってもサンフランシスコ市営交通だと思った。
電車は８両編成で、２両目と７両目に自転車を持ち込めるバイク・カーがあります。
自転車の駐輪コーナーは、こんなです。
ホームがベタ低い CalTrain。車輌がやや低床式になっても、段差はあります。
車内はこんな感じ。こっちが２階の屋根裏部屋です。
シートはリクラインしません。かなり直立してて、くつろげないかも。
こっちが一階席。
案内表示の液晶が、まだ新品で凄く綺麗♪
出発です。あっちのほうのホームに、旧い車輌がいました。
スタッドラー（ホントはシュタッドラー）って、どこの会社？…セイウチみたいなプロゴルファー？
家に着いてから調べたら、グループ本社がスイスなのは当たっていました。
せっかく先っぽの車輌に乗ったので、やはり運ちゃんの様子も撮らなくては。
ドアがバッチリ閉じてあったけど、窓のロールカーテンが少しだけ開けてありました。
急行なので、SF → 22番通り → ミルブレー → サンマテオ と、３駅で到着。
そして、今日使った交通運賃は、こちら。（シニア運賃なので半額）
最悪だったのが、最後の最後。ホイッスルがものすげー大音量！
でもまぁ、綺麗でカッコイイ電車が走り始めたのは、朗報です。
それにしても… スヲッチって入店したら腕時計をガン見でチェックされます。
スイス製とはいえオモチャ時計しか売っていないのに、なんなの、あの店？？
今度、パテックのノーチラスでも装着していってみようかと思います。ｗｗｗ
でもイスタンブール空港で買えば税金かからないから、そっちが正解。
§
さて無事に目的を果たしたので、CalTrain の始発駅へ行きます。
最初は MUNI トラムのＴ線に乗ろうかと思ったけど… MUNI 45 系統のバスに乗車。
これも電化されたバスでした。今回の移動は、ゼロ・エミッションです。
ネコとホモ。動物愛護協会と、医療保険サービスの広告です。
ほんの数分、停車５つくらいで CalTrain Depot に到着。
11 時 12 分発だというので、駅に併設の Subway でサンドイッチを買ってきました。
11時過ぎにホームが開放されました。こうやって新旧の先っぽを撮ると、ちょっと凄いものがあります。
今日はホームに出る時、Mobile Clipper（西瓜やイコカ相当）を読み取りませんでした。車内でも Clipper のスクリーンを見せるだけで、ぬるい。チケットの正規購入率が９割以上いったからでしょうか。
ドアに大きなチャリマークが。判り易くなりました。
ラッシュアワーは、これが２両あってもビッシリになって阿鼻叫喚らしいです。
20 年前に、チャリを持ち込んで通勤していたのが、少し懐かしくなりました。
ディーゼルは６両で、いちばん先っぽが動力車だったので実際は５両。
今度は８両編成の先っぽへ行ってみたけど… 遠い！
東海道新幹線ってこの倍の編成だったよね？やっぱ日本って、凄いわ。
で… ドアが開く前に、こんなステップが出てきます。
MUNI のトラムでも同じような構造だけど、CalTrain で見たらなぜか新鮮。
搭乗して… 深呼吸。
凄い！ 臭くない！！(爆)
新幹線よりも、さらにちいさいような荷台があります。
でも今度から、サンフランシスコ ⇄ サンノゼを１時間弱で結ぶんだから、これでいいのかも。
とりあえず「まるごとプラスチックの椅子」ではなく、人工皮革っぽいから許す。
テーブルのある座席に陣取って、荷物をひろげて…
バスでは飲食禁止ですが、CalTrain は飲食オッケー♪
でも結局、ダイエットコークだけジルジルすすって、サンドイッチは家で食べました。
家人の大好物、フィリーｗチーズステーキを買ってあったから、自宅まで我慢したの。
でも… せっかくの臭くない車内を、ややサンドイッチ臭くした気がする…。（汗）
ドアがあるぶん、座席数が少ない。短距離の乗車ならここに座るよね。
あと、階段の途中・踊り場等にもベンチシートとか、座る場所がいろいろ工夫してありました。
全体の構造的には、今まで乗車した鉄道で最も似ているのは、シドニー市内と空港を繋ぐ路線です。
将来あの程度の傷つけられ具合、汚され具合で済めばラッキーでしょうが… アメリカだからなぁ。
始発駅だから、こんな表示が出ていました。まるでユナイテッド航空の新造機みたいでステキ！
でも、すぐに窓も液晶も釘で引っ掻かれて傷だらけになって、車内も臭くなるんでしょう。
バージニアあたりから中古で買い付けたらしい、川崎車輌製の中古です。
もう一ヶ月足らずでバイバイだね。でももう一回だけ乗っておこうか、思案中…。
出発する時の警告は、同じ台詞。
Caution. The doors are about to close.（ドアが閉まります。ご注意ください）
旧い車輌では、いかにも人工的な、アメックスのカスタマーサポートで電話を取る印度人みたいに不自然な英語だったのが、とても滑らかでスピーディな、アクセントの無い女性の声になりました。
そういえば、この新造機はどこの製品だろう？
探してみたら… これが製造メーカーの銘板みたいでした。
なんとなくスイスあたりの、エレベータでも造ってるような会社っぽい。←発想が日立ｗ
米国の子会社がユタ州にあって、そこで造ったみたいです。
会社案内のページに、誇らしげに CalTrain の写真があって、少しイタいかも…。
運転席へ行くのは、こんな感じ。折り返しで２階へも上がれます。
カーテンの隙間から盗撮♪ ガタイのいい運ちゃんは坊主狩りでもんもんが入った、ヤバそうな兄貴でした。
遅延なく 26 分で着きました。来月 21 日からはバーリンゲームにも停車して、それでも 23 分で運行予定。
乗り心地は、シートに軽く押しつけられるような素早い加速で快適です。
ニューヨーク → ボストンで乗ったアセラ・エクスプレスに負けてないかも。
CalTrain は「終点の分まで前払いして、途中降りた駅で返金」するので、
サンマテオで $5.60
↓
ミルブレーで $4.00 返金 ＝ $1.60 の支払い。
BART は JR みたいに降りた駅でチャージするので、$2.05。
MUNI バスは一律 $1.25。
サンフランシスコ → サンマテオ は、$6.60 - $4.00 ＝ $2.60 の支払い。
合計で、７ドル 50 セントの旅でした。JPY1,100 くらい… 高い？
しかも踏切ひとつで１回鳴らす条例のおかげで、５回も鳴らす。
降車してきた客も、踏切に引っかかってた市民も、みんなで中指立てていました。
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your report on the test ride of the electrified CalTrain. However, I couldn’t help but notice that the electronic signboards at the station already showed a delay, and the train actually arrived about five minutes late, which was earlier than the expected time. While some delays are understandable, it’s frustrating when the signboards aren’t reliable. If it were me, I might have considered rushing to the restroom at the station, taking into account the expected delay, only to risk missing the train.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally use the station next to Okayama Station on the Sanyo Main Line, and the train approach announcements are constantly blaring. It seems they differentiate between the up and down lines using male and female voices, but just like with CalTrain, the sound must be audible to the surrounding neighborhood from early morning until late at night. And of course, this is on top of the noise from trains passing through and arriving at the station, which must be quite a nuisance for anyone who isn’t a train enthusiast. Of course, I assume people who built or moved into homes around the station were aware of this to some extent in advance.
When transferring from CalTrain to BART, it’s great that you can easily reach the International Terminal at SFO. That must be good news for a frequent flyer like you.
By the way, now that you're a senior, you can ride the bus for just one dollar, no matter where you're going. In Okayama City, they also offer a 50% discount on bus and tram fares for seniors aged 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities. However, to take advantage of this discount, we need a special IC card called "Hareca Half," so the first step is to apply for the card. Since I haven't done that yet, I'm not able to enjoy the discounted fares.
ReplyDeleteReading the description above, it might seem like Okayama City is really trying hard to help their citizens. But based on the reality of the situation, it appears that the use of buses and trams in the city has been steadily declining due to the rise of motorization, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has further reduced ridership by 20-30%, leading to a very challenging business environment. I believe the hidden motive behind offering this half-price discount to seniors is to encourage the use of public transportation and maintain essential transportation services for daily activities like commuting, shopping, and medical visits.
Still, you ride a one-dollar bus to the airport and then fly business class on an international flight—it’s quite an enjoyable contrast, and I can understand your desire to relish that experience.
From the flow of the conversation, I had assumed you were heading to the airport on BART, but it turns out your real aim was to indulge a bit in the city, right? That exchange between you and the store clerk was quite amusing.
ReplyDeleteIn the first part, the product's environmentally friendly features like "sustainability" and being "eco-friendly" are emphasized, but in the end, it's pointed out that "when it's broken, it can't be repaired and goes straight to the landfill," which actually harms the environment—this is so typical of you! In other words, you're pointing out the contradiction of a product that's supposed to be "environmentally friendly" but ends up being discarded without repair when it breaks. Your comment highlights the irony between the product's eco-friendly image and the actual wasteful disposal process.
Moreover, by emphasizing that this "eco-friendly" product ultimately meets its fate in the landfill, you're also making a witty remark about how the product's sustainability claims contradict reality (hahaha).
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteLet me respond some points briefly. I’m feeling sick since I received an updated version (2024-25 formula) of Comirnaty® on last Tuesday…
The schedule of CalTrain is still inaccurate and the whistle is unacceptably loud. But the noises from diesel are gone which is still great. In couple of weeks, the running schedule will be much busier but everything looks fresh and pleasant except the loud whistle.
I enjoy half the price rides of trains and buses but ‘certified’ disabled passengers are free. I am not so envy about that though. The bus rides for medical attendance including flu/Covid vaccinations and the jury duty are free too. Furthermore, SamTrans bus doesn’t charge for the return rides or connections within 2 hrs, or the max-cap is at $2 per a day (2 dollars for a day pass) for seniors. …and if I reserve Uber ride to SFO in advance, it costs $40 + tip so it will be over JPY7,000 which is ridiculous.
The Senior Clipper card, which is white colored one, requires sending your photo ID to crippercard.com but the registration can be done online, the physical Clipper card will be arrived within a week. I even was able to apply a month before my birthday.
After all, my Swatch collections are getting larger and larger… I now have 9 Speedmaster and 2 Fifty Fathoms.
Then I have to confess a small correction – if those Bioceramic Swatch became in failure, the movement can’t be serviced but replaced!! …means, if it’s broken, I can bring it to Nicolas G Hayek Center in Ginza where I can stop by at least twice a year, then ask them to replace the inside of my OmegaxSwatch or BlanpainxSwatch. I would like to try bringing my bioceramic watch to Blanpain boutique and see the reaction of the sales clerk (lol).
Reminding the previous service, I asked an overhaul for my Seamaster at Omega floor there, and then they did replace the entire movement… I think that is the typical service by Swatch Group. (lol) …and the broken movements will be sent to the landfill. (LoL)
https://www.obakoba.com/2019/03/tokyo-2019-feb-3.html
So, do you own a Patek Philippe Nautilus? I’m not very knowledgeable about watches, but I’ve heard that its value as an asset surpasses even its worth as a timepiece. A quick search shows that new models can go for close to 100 million yen, and even used ones easily exceed 10 million yen. I’m not sure whether your Nautilus is new or pre-owned, but in any case, you should be careful about theft or loss when wearing it. Though, knowing how cautious you are, I’m sure there’s no need to worry.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that electrified buses run in the San Francisco Bay Area. While "EV buses" are gaining attention globally, I think we rarely see them in Japan's regional cities like Okayama.
You mentioned buying a sandwich from Subway at a station, and that’s the long oval-shaped sandwich, right? I’ve heard that Subway has surpassed McDonald's as the world’s largest restaurant chain, but there are still only two outlets in Okayama Prefecture—one in Okayama and one in Kurashiki, both inside Aeon Malls. Like EV buses, Subway hasn’t quite made its mark in Japan’s regional cities. I bet there are Subway stores everywhere in the U.S.
Burger King seems to be increasing its presence in Japan, but there still aren’t any locations in Okayama Prefecture. This Sunday, I’m planning to cross the Seto Ohashi Bridge all the way to Kagawa just to visit one. I got a discount coupon for two Whopper sets, but when I take into account in the round-trip ETC toll of 3,980 yen for the weekend, plus the cost of premium gasoline for my low-mileage M850i, it feels like a ridiculous errand (lol).
You’ve been feeling unwell since receiving the latest 2024–2025 version of Comirnaty®, the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, right? Based on data within Japan, the most commonly reported symptoms of post-vaccine side effects include "fatigue," "decreased concentration," "sleep disorders," "anxiety," and "dizziness." When people experiencing such symptoms visit medical institutions after vaccination, they are often diagnosed with conditions like "depression," "autonomic nervous system dysfunction," or "chronic nasopharyngitis," rather than receiving a diagnosis of "vaccine side effects."
ReplyDeleteAs a general physician, I can understand this to some extent—it’s currently difficult to prove a direct link between a person’s symptoms and the vaccination. Thus, it’s easier to assign one of the above diagnoses.
In any case, there is no evidence-based effective treatment established for vaccine side effects, so in your case, it seems we can only observe your condition over time. However, if your symptoms persist for several months, it would be advisable to visit an appropriate medical facility.
The sound of CalTrain’s whistle is incredibly loud, isn’t it? Personally, I love the sound of diesel engines, but even so, hearing it 24/7 as a resident along the line would be tough. And with the number of trains set to increase in a few weeks, it would be great if they could reduce the volume of the whistle a bit.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteThe reaction by Comirnaty® is over. Thank you for the words and the suggestions.
This time was the strongest reaction with Comirnaty or Spikevax… but the reaction worst ever was Zostavax by Merk. I couldn’t get up from bed for two days, and then I called my primary doctor. Doctor’s office said if the symptom remains one more day I had to see doctor, but fortunately the severe reaction ended on the third day. After that bad experience I again received the series of Singlix in 2022-23 without severe reactions, and the protection is way better than Zostavax. Now I do hate the vaccines made by Merk. :P
Now I will be ‘slightly’ protected by Comirnaty… but my next trip will be coming Tuesday and it’s too early. I think my immune system doesn’t recreate well by then. See what happens… at least I won’t be charged in hospital, I hope.
In San Mateo, train and bus fares are free for passengers with certified disabilities, aren’t they? In stingy Okayama City, it seems they still charge half price even for disabled individuals. At this point, I don't particularly envy the free fare, but if I were in a position of having a disability, I might feel grateful for it being free.
ReplyDeleteOh, I can somewhat understand why bus rides would be free for jury duty, but it’s interesting that it’s also free for getting the flu or COVID-19 vaccines. This reminds me, about three years ago, there was news from the U.S. where President Biden urged state governments to offer a $100 incentive for getting vaccinated, due to the surge in infections. From a Japanese perspective, I remember thinking that, even though it was to curb the spread, not only offering free vaccinations but also giving out rewards was quite something.
So, bus fares for seniors are capped at just $2 a day over there? In Okayama City, for the "Hareca Half" discount, I also need to submit a photo with my face on it, but there’s no online registration available (though it seems I can apply by mail), and it takes several weeks to receive the card. Okayama City cites the reason being, “Due to the global semiconductor shortage, there is a delay in procuring the IC chips necessary for manufacturing the Hareca Half cards.”
In your last service, when you requested an overhaul of your Seamaster, the entire movement was replaced, wasn’t it? If, as you point out, this is typical service by the Swatch Group, and if the broken movements are simply discarded, then it does feel a bit awkward for them to call themselves "sustainable" or "eco-friendly" (lol).
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I took another look at https://www.obakoba.com/2019/03/tokyo-2019-feb-3.html. This is an article from before the COVID-19 pandemic, but I see that even here I left a comment unrelated to the text—how embarrassing!
The second thing that caught my eye was the building owned by your senior near Tsukiji Station. I’d heard it was renovated and reopened at the beginning of this March, but at the time of this article, it was still the building I remember, and the third-generation owner, Mr. T, was still alive. So much has changed in just five years, of course with the pandemic in between.
It’s a famous restaurant I’d like to visit when the opportunity arises, especially to pay my respects, and it also holds a special meaning for me, as it symbolizes the people associated with T Academy who gather there.
On this day, after dining with everyone at a restaurant specializing in stews and gratins, you went to the 5th floor of the Swatch service center, to the Omega specialty corner, and picked up your watch after its overhaul, happily heading home with it. Your love for watches really shines through in this article—it’s a fun read (Ah, after five years, I’ve finally managed to leave a comment related to the content of the article! (LOL)).
I am relieved to hear that your side effects from Comirnaty® have ended. I would be glad if my suggestions to you written in my previous comment were ultimately unnecessary.
ReplyDeleteI believe Zostavax is not approved in Japan. For the purpose of reducing postherpetic neuralgia, two types of shingles vaccines, live vaccines (including Zostavax) and inactivated vaccines (such as Shingrix), are used. As you pointed out, Shingrix vaccination is significantly more effective than in unvaccinated individuals for those over 60, with an efficacy rate of over 90% four years after vaccination and 73% even after 10 years. Live vaccines like Zostavax are effective for individuals in their early 50s to 60s, but their effectiveness only lasts around five years and is limited to a 40–50% efficacy rate. I have received the live vaccine twice, but I must now seriously consider getting vaccinated with Shingrix.
The preventive effect of Comirnaty against COVID-19 infection is said to be around 59.5% two to four weeks after vaccination. Your next trip is coming soon, and indeed, it might be a little too early for the preventive effect to be fully established. I, too, hope that you will not need to be hospitalized at your destination.
The ad you pointed out, especially the part featuring the cat, really caught my attention. The message in this ad seems to have the intention of humorously expressing the joys and benefits of owning a cat. The photo of the cat along with the phrase "Your new roommate is waiting." is meant to encourage people to adopt a cat from an animal shelter, suggesting that welcoming a cat as a "roommate" will bring an enjoyable new chapter to their lives.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, the line where the cat says "I'll never wear your favorite shirt." is a humorous touch, emphasizing the advantage that cats, unlike humans, don’t need to wear clothes and won’t mess up their owner’s favorite items. It cleverly shows that cats are low-maintenance and easygoing companions.
In other words, this ad effectively communicates the fun of having a cat, along with the advantage of them being less demanding, in a humorous and approachable way.
That got me thinking—what if the photo in this ad featured a dog instead of a cat? The nuance might change slightly. It wouldn’t feel strange to introduce a dog as a "new roommate," but since dogs have different characteristics compared to cats, the tagline or the dog's line would likely need some adjustments.
For instance, the phrase "I'll never wear your favorite shirt." might not work as well for a dog. Dogs are generally more likely than cats to show interest in things like clothes (perhaps even chewing on or tearing their owner's clothes!), and they often interact with their owner’s belongings. Instead, the message might focus on a dog’s loyalty or playful nature.
For example, the main message "Your new roommate is waiting." could stay the same, but the dog might say something like "I'll always be excited when you come home." This would highlight the unconditional love and loyalty dogs show their owners, emphasizing the joy of having a dog.
So, in the case of a dog, changing the message to reflect the dog’s traits—while keeping it humorous and warm—would likely give a different impression, even though it's essentially the same ad. Perhaps I’m imagining this because I lean more toward dogs, but I do understand how cat lovers must feel as well.
When I look at the front sections of both the old and new CalTrain cars that you showed me, I can definitely see a striking difference. What particularly caught my eye was the older model.
ReplyDeleteAs a former train enthusiast, it instantly reminded me of the Japan National Railways 581/583 series trains. Prior to that series, JNR's limited express trains had a strong sense of speed with their bonnet-shaped front ends and low roofs (the "Kodama" limited express being a prime example). However, in the 581/583 series, in order to accommodate sleeper space, the trains were made almost as wide as the gauge limits allowed, resulting in a taller body with vertical sides. For the first time in JNR’s limited express trains, a front walkway, similar to that seen on the old CalTrain cars, was installed. Even though there was a driver’s cabin, passengers could walk underneath it to move between carriages when the train was coupled with another, which felt innovative to me as a child.
By the way, it seems you were able to exit the platform without your Mobile Clipper being scanned. Even during the onboard ticket inspection, it seems all they do is glance at the screen, which seems rather loose. And you’ve told that over 90% of tickets are purchased properly, but I wonder how low that percentage was in the past. Perhaps with the increase in the use of online ticketing services, purchases made for the purpose of resale have decreased as a result. Going forward, we might see a reduction in the supply of tickets, such as Shinkansen or limited express tickets, to discount ticket shops in Japan as well.
The new CalTrain consists of eight cars, with bike cars available in the 2nd and 7th cars where passengers can bring their bicycles. As far as I know, there were no trains in Japan that allowed bicycles to be transported.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there were trains that transported motorcycles, not bicycles, for touring passengers heading to Hokkaido. These trains ran between Ueno Station and Hakodate Station, as well as Osaka Station and Hakodate Station, transporting both motorcycles and their riders. The former was called "MOTO Train," and the latter "Moto To（と） Rail." These trains were not special services but rather regular trains with dedicated cars attached. Although it was inconvenient to have to drain the gasoline from the motorcycles before boarding to ensure safety, the service was reasonably popular due to its shorter travel time compared to long-distance ferries and the convenience of departing directly from major urban stations.
If I remember correctly, these trains operated only during the summer from the 1980s to the 1990s. Additionally, due to the process of loading the motorcycles, passengers could not get on or off at any midway points.
Incidentally, I heard you used to bring your bicycle on the train for commuting about 20 years ago. That must certainly be a nostalgic memory for you.