Beer Train Takes the Strain Out of Commuting

ABCNews ^ | 7/25/02 | Reuters

[WindMinstrel]

TOKYO (Reuters) - Summertime commuting in Japan in high heat and humidity and huge crowds can be particularly stressful, but one train company has found a way to help its passengers relax.

Customers who book a seat on Fuji Kyuko's Friday night beer run can sit back and spend a two-hour trip being served as much locally brewed beer as they can drink.

The beer train plies a route near Mount Fuji, some 100 km (60 miles) southwest of Tokyo, normally used by businesspeople and students.

"People are enjoying it so much, it is almost completely booked up throughout August," said Naotaka Nishiyama, a spokesman for the company.

However, beer-drinking passengers should take advantage of stops at stations along the route because the train has no toilets.

[mhking]

"Hold muh beer, 'n watch this!"

[WindMinstrel]

2 words for you: no toilets.

I'd die of a burst bladder 45 minutes into the trip

[Wright is right!]

"However, beer-drinking passengers should take advantage of stops at stations along the route because the train has no toilets."

A re-invention of the "Chinese Fire Drill" comes to mind. No terlets? What WERE they THINKING?

It being Japan, you can probably have a smoke with your beer. As a guy I met outside the Atlanta airport said in bemoaning the smoke-free bars there, "If I can't smoke, why would I want to DRINK?"

Michael

[NormsRevenge]

Get the new workout tape .. "Bladders of SteeL" ..

[donozark]

I thought you were a "head" not a "juicer?" Good thing this ain't dope the Nips are passing out or we would lose a lot of new posters here on FR.

[Isle of sanity in CA]

This could rekindle Americans interest in mass transit!!!

Imagine the subways in NYC with kegs on every car.

[general_re]

Now I've been happy lately, thinking about the good things to come,
And I believe it could be, something good has begun,

Oh, I've been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one,
And I believe it could be, some day it's going to come,

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a beer train,
Oh, beer train take this country, come take me home again,

Now I've been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come,
And I believe it could be, something good has begun,

Oh, beer train sounding louder,
Glide on the beer train,
Come on now beer train,
Yes, beer train holy roller,

Everyone jump up on the beer train,
Come on now beer train,

Get your bags together, go bring your good friends too,
Cause it's getting nearer, it soon will be with you,

Now come and join the living, it's not so far from you,
And it's getting nearer, soon it will all be true,

Now I've been crying lately, thinking about the world as it is,
Why must we go on hating, why can't we live in bliss,

Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a beer train,
Oh, beer train take this country, come take me home again...

[WindMinstrel]

Lol, well done!

[mamelukesabre]

Reminds me of a bar I used to go to when I was younger. One night a week they had free beer for everyone, all you could drink. There was just one catch. No one was allowed to leave the bar and no one was allowed to use the restrooms. As soon as someone did one of those, the free beer ended. YOu can immagine how it must have felt to be the one that had to go pee first.

[dighton]

Beer Train

Strictly haram, old boy. Strictly haram.

[Wolfie]

The Japanese are vociferous drinkers. This has disaster written all over it.

[general_re]

Yeah, well I liked him better before he became Yusef N'Diggity-diggity, or whatever. So there.

[WindMinstrel]

yeah, no kidding. I'm *still* hung over after an evening at a Hiroshima beer-garden...

[Wolfie]

Poor Cat Stevens. They releaseed a big 'ol Greatest Hits CD, he went in for the VH-1 Behind The Music treatment, the whole magilla, with all proceeds of his Greatest Hits to help raise money for a charity he works with. And then 9/11 happened. Oops.

[general_re]

Poor Cat Stevens.

That's "Yusef bin-Bongwatera" to you and me...

[Wolfie]

Acutally its "Yusef Islam". Might as well have been "Joe Hitler" at this point.

[general_re]

"Joe Hitler"..."Yusef Islam". Tough call these days...

[NeoCaveman]

Customers who book a seat on Fuji Kyuko's Friday night beer run can sit back and spend a two-hour trip being served as much locally brewed beer as they can drink.

All the beer you can drink? They'd lose money on us