Japanese railway firms offering remote workspaces

COVID-19 has not been kind to Japan's train operators. Revenues are down sharply, as people cut back on their commuting and traveling.

Some of the companies are trying to branch out by creating and renting office spaces for remote workers.

A group firm of Seibu Railway has built three prefabricated housing units in Tokyo. They sit on a vacant lot along a Seibu rail line.

Renters get access to a toilet and air conditioning, among other conveniences.

Monthly rent for the smallest one, covering roughly 10 square meters, is about 470 dollars. They can also be leased by the hour. Rentals will begin next month.

Officials at East Japan Railway say they are going to put their cubicles on train-station platforms in Tokyo. They say the facilities will be the first of their kind in Japan.

Keikyu has started a trial for an office on wheels. The company is renting a converted camping van, dubbed a "Mobile Office."

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210222_27/