“Greater than mates lower than lovers” workforce exhibits us what it takes to take care of hundreds of commuters on the rails.
Have you ever ever questioned how Japanese trains appear to run like clockwork? Properly, numerous it is because of the coaching of employees who work for the railway firm, and at Keio Electrical Railway there’s a driver-and-conductor duo who’re completely satisfied to point out us the way it’s accomplished.
The 2-man workforce lately starred in a brand new video uploaded to the railway firm’s official YouTube account, and it’s been drawing consideration not just for the behind-the-scenes have a look at how the trains are operated, but additionally for the candy bond that exists between workers on both finish of the prepare.
▼ In the back of the prepare is Mr Hosoo as conductor (left), and on the entrance is Mr Uemura within the driver’s seat (proper).
The video lifts the curtain on their life on the rails, beginning with a peek into their fortnightly schedule, which consists of each day and evening shifts, the place they could work from 6:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 8:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (with a three-hour break in between) or 1:00 p.m.-10 p.m. Generally they even keep in a single day (“泊まり勤務”) and work totally different shifts over two days.
▼ Days off are marked as “休”
Whereas their working hours might change week-to-week, the one factor that doesn’t change is their partnership, as a result of at Keio, they prefer to have their drivers and conductors stick collectively as a duo. Mr Hosoo and Mr Uemura have been working each shift collectively for 3 years, and driver-conductor groups on the firm have been recognized to final 10 years.
It’s spectacular to be taught concerning the partnership system, and Hosoo and Uemura make it look straightforward, smiling and laughing as they check in and take breath alcohol assessments earlier than heading out to commandeer their first prepare for the day. Whereas they is perhaps jovial within the workplace, as quickly as they take up their positions on their prepare, they carry out duties in a critical {and professional} method, utilizing hand and buzzer alerts to speak and make sure the security of everybody on board.
When it’s time to interrupt for lunch, the 2 take their meals collectively on the employees cafe, the place they reveal that they spend time collectively outdoors of labor too, even attending baseball video games now and again, regardless of supporting rival groups.
▼ Mr Hosoo describes their relationship as “ズブズブ” (“zubuzubu”) which suggests “inseparable”.
There might be numerous downtime in between trains so employees are supplied with a kitchen space, a pc room, relaxation areas, nap rooms and even a bed room and shared tub to maintain them working in peak situation. The shifts might be lengthy, so it helps to have a accomplice by your aspect going via the identical factor, and judging by their friendship, it is a duo that can final the take a look at of time.
▼ Check out the video beneath (don’t neglect you possibly can activate subtitles and click on auto-translate to know what they’re saying in your chosen language).
It’s a really candy video that serves as inspiration for all us in our personal working relationships, and the sweetest second of all comes in direction of the top of the video, when the motive force is requested to convey what Mr Hosoo means to him. He doesn’t even must assume earlier than he turns to the conductor and tells him, “You’re an irreplaceable accomplice“. After they chuckle goodheartedly, he goes on to say extra severely, “I’m indebted to you each professionally and privately so that you’re somebody I’d by no means wish to lose.”
When Mr Hosoo is requested for his impressions, he jokingly says, “Tomodachi ijou koibito miman“, which suggests, “We’re greater than mates however lower than lovers“. Whereas this would possibly look like a lighthearted tackle the connection, it’s truly an apt description for 2 individuals who spend a lot time collectively, particularly when the stakes are so excessive with the protection of so many lives of their arms day-after-day.
It’s heartwarming to be taught concerning the bond that exists between driver and conductor and witness firsthand how this relationship of mutual respect and belief kinds a powerful foundation for security and effectivity on one among Japan’s busiest railways. Right here’s hoping their relationship continues nicely into the long run, and we’ll all be preserving a watch out for them subsequent time we board a Keio Line prepare.
Supply: YouTube/京王電鉄公式チャンネル through Web Lab
Pictures: YouTube/京王電鉄公式チャンネル
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