This bus transforms into a train

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  • Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
  • The DMV, or Dual Mode Vehicle, on the Asa Coast Railway in Shikoku, Japan, is a hybrid bus and train. And I rode it. ■ The railway: asatetu.com/en/ (English) or asatetu.com/ (Japanese)
    An accessible English dub of this video is available. Plus, as there was (unusually) room for it in this video, there's also a version with audio description. You can turn those on in your device's player settings. Both are experimental and use an AI-generated voice, so they're a long way from perfect; I can't guarantee they'll be available for future videos, or even for this one long-term! But hopefully it's a step in the right direction.
    Local producer: Yasuharu Matsuno at Mind Architect
    Camera: Julian Domanski
    🟥 MORE FROM TOM: www.tomscott.com/
    (you can find contact details and social links there too)
    📰 WEEKLY NEWSLETTER with good stuff from the rest of the internet: www.tomscott.c...
    ❓ LATERAL, free weekly podcast: lateralcast.com/ / lateralcast
    ➕ TOM SCOTT PLUS: / tomscottplus
    👥 THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES: / techdif

КОМЕНТАРІ • 2 тис.

  • @TomScottGo
    @TomScottGo  Рік тому +1773

    I've got an email newsletter! It goes out every Monday, same time as the weekly video here, and links to a load of interesting things I've found on the internet over the past week. You can sign up here: www.tomscott.com/newsletter/

    • @h.f6364
      @h.f6364 Рік тому +9

      Father

    • @santy8017
      @santy8017 Рік тому +5

      This might just be what I need to bus

    • @GenaF
      @GenaF Рік тому +11

      I was thinking the Stourbridge Shuttle did exactly the same as this on the video, as in going on the road and the rails. So if anyone wants a job on the rails...

    • @I_Love_Learning
      @I_Love_Learning Рік тому +10

      Can confirm that is goes out the same time. I got pinged for the email, and saw this mere minutes later.

    • @Craig-wp3pz
      @Craig-wp3pz Рік тому +13

      One of the few Emails in my inbox that actually gets opened and read......
      📧 👀 🥳

  • @Sophiebryson510
    @Sophiebryson510 Рік тому +8825

    Gives ‘rail replacment bus service’ a new meaning

    • @JohnR31415
      @JohnR31415 Рік тому +247

      And the bus replacement rail service that Tom featured some years ago

    • @DJTrainBrain
      @DJTrainBrain Рік тому +51

      Especially since it doesn't even replace the rails :D

    • @matthewwatt2295
      @matthewwatt2295 Рік тому +65

      ​@@JohnR31415 A bus replacement rail replacement bus, then? 😂

    • @lonestarr1490
      @lonestarr1490 Рік тому +54

      @@matthewwatt2295 Actually, it's a bus replacement rail replacement bus-train.

    • @heliofaros1344
      @heliofaros1344 Рік тому +18

      Truss bain...tuss brain 😊

  • @Namisar
    @Namisar Рік тому +6028

    That song it plays when it transforms is adorable and I bet as the driver you'd get sick of it real quick.

    • @1pcfred
      @1pcfred Рік тому +264

      If you knew you were getting paid it'd be OK.

    • @mandowarrior123
      @mandowarrior123 Рік тому +178

      I bet it plays in your head each time you get in your car.

    • @Alex-cw3rz
      @Alex-cw3rz Рік тому +216

      Having it's own theme song like it's a transformer going into battle.

    • @Banom7a
      @Banom7a Рік тому +268

      Japanese are used to annoying jingle lmao
      *flashback of me going to buy fish in japanese supermarket*

    • @TerribleUsernameAmirite
      @TerribleUsernameAmirite Рік тому +101

      @@Banom7a so true. All the supermarkets too, just the same half dozen jingles over and over and over

  • @duseylicious
    @duseylicious Рік тому +2641

    “To attract the kind of tourists who want to ride on a road/rail vehicle.” Then we see Tom’s huge smile. “It’s me. I’m that tourist.”

    • @qwertyTRiG
      @qwertyTRiG Рік тому +84

      Now we need to send The Tim Traveller, Geoff Marshall, Jago Hazzard, and Reese M. there.

    •  Рік тому +16

      And, seemingly, the only one there.

    • @jt92
      @jt92 Рік тому +9

      Also Sheldon

    • @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721
      @vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 Рік тому +31

      Just look how happy he was at the moment the vehicle switched modes. He's the target audience.

    • @rollin340
      @rollin340 Рік тому +6

      It's always nice to see him being genuinely interested and excited about what he does.

  • @ThioJoe
    @ThioJoe Рік тому +2534

    I just noticed the option for the "English Dubbed" audio track which dubs the translated parts. Definitely appreciated because I often am doing other stuff while watching the video and would otherwise have to read the translation. There's also an "English Descriptive" audio track option for those with impaired vision.

    • @Achilles3666
      @Achilles3666 Рік тому +184

      I'm so glad you pointed this out! I actually delayed watching this video because I couldn't give the screen my full attention for the subtitles. The dub is so helpful!

    • @NeoRichardBlake
      @NeoRichardBlake Рік тому +215

      I was today years old when I learned this is even a thing on UA-cam. I had no idea some videos can have different audio tracks. Thanks for the education! 😁 👍
      Edit: Looks like this is a new feature. Guess I'm not clueless after all. 😋

    • @DiverseGreen-Anon
      @DiverseGreen-Anon Рік тому +14

      I also just noticed that and read the video description. Interesting stuff

    • @tekbox7909
      @tekbox7909 Рік тому +31

      Thx for pointing it out more people need to learn about it being a part of his videos since you don't usually look for that feature, especially since I didn't even know it existed

    • @Jehty_
      @Jehty_ Рік тому +49

      Wait what?
      Since when does UA-cam has that function? I love it 👍

  • @NaudVanDalen
    @NaudVanDalen Рік тому +717

    The effort that Tom Scott does for a 5 minute video is amazing. He went to Japan and interviewed the Chief of General Affairs of the Asa Coast Railway and added a bunch of extra camera shots and drone shots plus added subtitles and 2 extra audio tracks (dubbed and audio description). Other people would have just turned on their camera and filmed some of this in a less interesting way without drone shots or an interview and somehow still end up dragging it out for over 15 minutes, let alone doing effort to add subtitles (instead using automatically generated subtitles), let alone adding audio tracks, which I've never seen on ANY other video.

    • @NaudVanDalen
      @NaudVanDalen Рік тому +22

      @@JakeGutteridge Finally they added some good features instead of just taking them away.

    • @JHaven-lg7lj
      @JHaven-lg7lj Рік тому +10

      He does do a great job with the visuals and research, doesn’t he?
      And the methods his team uses for subtitling are great - different colors for different people, and now enabling the new audio features. Always a thumbs-up from me

    • @farhanatashiga3721
      @farhanatashiga3721 Рік тому +1

      I mean considering how famous he and his videos has become over the 10+ years he's been doing this I don't think it's that difficult anymore for him to set up interviews with company and governmental officials anymore

    • @aarononeil9832
      @aarononeil9832 Рік тому +12

      Tom's probably one of the peaks on UA-cam for professionalism, dedication, transparency and integrity, I never expect anything less than this level of effort from him

    • @ralisgroffen
      @ralisgroffen Рік тому

      i think every Mr Beast video has them

  • @Case16710
    @Case16710 Рік тому +4424

    This would make a good question for Tom’s Lateral podcast. “Which Japanese train line has hundreds of derailments per year?”

    • @Leo0718
      @Leo0718 Рік тому +463

      Yet it is kept in operation unchanged?

    • @AaronOfMpls
      @AaronOfMpls Рік тому +154

      🤣 Yah, this _would_ be a good one! (Especially if his guests haven't watched the video, or have had enough time to largely forget it.)

    • @Case16710
      @Case16710 Рік тому +335

      @@Leo0718 another clue could be, “it has a perfect safety record”.

    • @seraphina985
      @seraphina985 Рік тому +64

      @@Case16710 I might add that in the question just because the incongruency of that would be fun. If you don't know the answer these two things seem like they should not be referring to the same thing.

    • @Case16710
      @Case16710 Рік тому +2

      @@seraphina985 good point!

  • @MaxLennon
    @MaxLennon Рік тому +2413

    2:20 The "train mode activate" soundtrack is my favorite part of the whole thing. Totally unnecessary, but the designers thought "might as well make this 15 second process more fun for the passengers!"

    • @Icedrake201
      @Icedrake201 Рік тому +240

      "Metamorphisis completed sir! Bus train has now become... *drums* train bus!"

    • @DrZaius3141
      @DrZaius3141 Рік тому +103

      I mean, if this is your daily commute, it'll get really old really fast.

    • @Peter_S_
      @Peter_S_ Рік тому +130

      It is very Japanese. Kawai or the quantifiable level of 'cuteness' is part of judging things in the Japanese culture. Hello Kitty is an example of Kawai colliding with capitalism.

    • @Alex-cw3rz
      @Alex-cw3rz Рік тому +68

      Having it's own theme song makes it feel like it's a transformer going into battle.

    • @Necris94
      @Necris94 Рік тому +55

      Modo chengi - STARTO!

  • @jojodroid31
    @jojodroid31 Рік тому +4338

    Tom's never going to stop finding more Gadgetbahns, is he?

    • @Bob-nc5hz
      @Bob-nc5hz Рік тому +152

      Given how many tim and reece have gone through, he's got quite the backlog.

    • @RHTeebs
      @RHTeebs Рік тому +46

      Is it a gadgetbahn? I thought that was a train that was on tracks, but runs on rubber tires.

    • @SeeLasSee
      @SeeLasSee Рік тому +7

      He might if people don’t keep giving new concepts a chance.

    • @OmniGundam777
      @OmniGundam777 Рік тому +190

      This isn't really a Gadgetbahn (to me, at least). It's meant to preserve the rail line, not revolutionize transit.

    • @nevango0690
      @nevango0690 Рік тому +124

      ​@@RHTeebs a gadgetbahn can be any silly and needlessly overcomplicated transport method, rubber tyred trains are just one example

  • @TheIppoippo
    @TheIppoippo Рік тому +492

    Can I just say, the representative you interviewed from Asa Coast Railway, major thumbs up for knowing how to do his job! He spoke clearly and slowly, and added in appropriate hand gestures, making it easy for non-native Japanese speakers/learners to understand. That's how you do PR & Marketing!
    Something for me to aspire to when the roles are reversed and I'm speaking English to Japanese colleagues etc etc.

    • @joniii_
      @joniii_ Рік тому +25

      He was fantastic. I'm someone who's no means fluent in Japanese but I can get by. The way he made himself understandable was outstanding.

  • @hallamhal
    @hallamhal Рік тому +70

    I love how absolutely everything has a jingle in Japan

    • @automation7295
      @automation7295 Рік тому +8

      Japan allowed jingles on everything but doesn't allow any phones and digital cameras have a shutter sound when taking a photo.

    • @Indrakrn
      @Indrakrn Рік тому

      Because the country is a whole circus after getting bombed

  • @peteranderson037
    @peteranderson037 Рік тому +1164

    I've never seen anyone so happy to be in the DMV before.

    • @scottanno8861
      @scottanno8861 Рік тому +51

      I confess my sins at the DMV.

    • @TesserId
      @TesserId Рік тому +26

      He happened to get there when there weren't any lines.

    • @_implying
      @_implying Рік тому +20

      @@TesserId not scientifically possible

    • @Dusterisp
      @Dusterisp Рік тому +5

      Respite was brief, and then there were lines again like with all DMVs

    • @LJCyrus1
      @LJCyrus1 Рік тому +12

      If you had to take this DMV to get to the DMV it might be more fun.

  • @dankdreamz
    @dankdreamz Рік тому +1134

    The guy you're interviewing is incredibly good. He speaks Japanese slowly in a way that is easily understandable.

    • @valeriek8537
      @valeriek8537 Рік тому +90

      Agreed. I’m studying, still N5, and he’s great to listen to.

    • @dirtfriend
      @dirtfriend Рік тому +69

      yes!! though he lost me when he started talking about pulse sensors and whatchamacallits

    • @jettnash5217
      @jettnash5217 Рік тому +70

      I was literally thinking the same, he's super clear has great oral cadence and clearly makes every sound for each and every word

    • @bastersturm
      @bastersturm Рік тому +54

      maybe he is or was an announcer for stops and stations

    • @enterchannelname8981
      @enterchannelname8981 Рік тому +54

      And his hand gestures are on point!

  • @pflaumenketchup2026
    @pflaumenketchup2026 Рік тому +1378

    I love how Tom always manages to show something that I would never hear and probably not care about, yet presents it in a way that makes it interesting

    • @Snookbone
      @Snookbone Рік тому +4

      Well done on Liking The Thing

    • @blu0065
      @blu0065 Рік тому +4

      Tbh, I'm kind of for gadgetbahns that save rails so that the rails can be used if the population ever increases or if demand ever increases

    • @laurencefraser
      @laurencefraser Рік тому +3

      @@blu0065 arguably, simply by opperating on existing standard rails, a significant percentage of the things that make a gadgetbahn what it is are eliminated. (of course, that doesn't automatically make it NOT a gadgetbahn, but it does put it lower down the scale by quite a bit. Usually.)

    • @DajJednego
      @DajJednego Рік тому

      Funny how the English-speaking Japanese UA-camrs never got to this thing before Tom.

  • @kingjulian1202
    @kingjulian1202 Рік тому +176

    I have been learning Japanese for over two years now, and explanations like this are the perfect listening comprehensions, formal, clearly spoken, subtitles for checking again, perfect. Thanks Tom, good video as always

    • @animeartist888
      @animeartist888 Рік тому +18

      Yea, as a fairly new learner of Japanese, I could still pick out the verb and subject of each sentence easily even when I didn't know the vocab for the words themselves. Usually native speakers go too fast for me, and I get lost because I missed a particle somewhere. I really like the interviewee and his way of speaking slowly and clearly. Not many people of any nationality do that.

    • @Thermospore
      @Thermospore Рік тому +6

      @@animeartist888 keep it up! before you know it you won't even notice verbs and subjects and particles, it will just sound like meaning!

  • @safe-keeper1042
    @safe-keeper1042 Рік тому +397

    Tom buying a plushie of the freaking bus is the cutest thing I've seen in a long time 😄

    • @bertilhatt
      @bertilhatt Рік тому +15

      Using UA-cam money, so in a way, you bough a little bit of that plushie.

    • @SportyMabamba
      @SportyMabamba Рік тому +25

      @@bertilhatt the real treasure are the plushies we met along the way

    • @KusaneHexaku
      @KusaneHexaku Рік тому +1

      i love plushies i want one,,

  • @NotJustBikes
    @NotJustBikes Рік тому +270

    I've never been more jealous of a Tom Scott video. BRB, checking flights to Japan.

    • @yvxn360me
      @yvxn360me Рік тому +15

      I'm curious what Not Just Bikes thinks of such gimmicky infrastructure! Maybe fine in a declining coast town but this seems like a very specific case in justifying keeping aging rails 😂

    • @JoelMatton
      @JoelMatton Рік тому +27

      There's a whole cool Japanese transportation rabitthole you can go down, they have things like sleeper busses with private booths, trains with an entire vending machine car, high speed trains, trains with an office room you can rent to have a business meeting on the train etc etc. So much cool stuff.

    • @garfieldandfriends1
      @garfieldandfriends1 Рік тому +5

      I’ll love to see a Japan series of your videos.

    • @DouglasWatt
      @DouglasWatt Рік тому

      Haha, I'd love to help you with that! Been living in Kanto area for 20 years! Wish I could have helped Tom out with his visit!

  • @yyy222y2
    @yyy222y2 Рік тому +462

    Fun fact about the DMV: The vehicle was originally prototyped and tested by JR Hokkaido, the privatized national rail corporation that operates in Japan's northern most prefecture. The project was eventually scrapped as it was too impractical to use for regular service, and many thought it would end up as a failed invention that went nowhere. It was then quite the suprise when the Asa Kagan Railway said that they will be replacing their fleet with DMVs, the failed invention now had a practical use

    • @jickhertz4124
      @jickhertz4124 Рік тому +9

      Oh that explains how they got the design and budget to build the thing!

    • @theoperator288
      @theoperator288 Рік тому +7

      It failed more so because of the large amount of snow that the specific area of Hokkaido gets. The cost was greater than the practicality. I remember a news segment about them closing the rail station since the final high school student graduated from that village. There were talks of running a similar system in Gifu and Toyama prefectures, but ran into a similar problem where the weather would hinder it more.

    • @AlohaBiatch
      @AlohaBiatch Рік тому +1

      FYI JR Hokkaido is a privatized entity like the rest of japan’s ex national rail, however because it is highly unprofitable all its shares are still owned by the government. Unlike JR East, JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu, which are all privatized and make lots of profit from rail, real estate and other ventures. Those companies the government sold all their shares and you can freely buy them on the stock market.

    • @hannahranga
      @hannahranga Рік тому +1

      @@jickhertz4124 they're not as nice but crew bus road rail vehicle for railworkers have existed for a while. This looks like they did the conversation on a nice bus instead of the normal povo spec vinyl floor and canvas seats version.

    • @type17
      @type17 Рік тому +1

      @@hannahranga It looks like a Toyota Coaster with an addition for the rail-wheels. The resulting massive front overhang must take some getting used to when driving on the roads.

  • @Huntracony
    @Huntracony Рік тому +466

    So, basically, its reason for existing is that it's cool. As reasons go, that's a pretty good one.

    • @Kyrelel
      @Kyrelel Рік тому +21

      Its reason for existing, as explained in the video, is to keep the railway operational

    • @cloudkitt
      @cloudkitt Рік тому +44

      @@Kyrelel by being cool :P

    • @benja_mint
      @benja_mint Рік тому +22

      If your train service is dying a slow death... you've already got existing track and stations, it might be cheaper to convert a couple of buses into DMVs like this rather than rip up the otherwise unused tracks
      but tracks are expensive to maintain, and in this case completely unnecessary, I do wonder how long this cool thing will exist

    • @joedingo7022
      @joedingo7022 Рік тому +27

      @@benja_mint since the cost to maintain track is generally proportional to the tonnage that travels over it, this still had much lower track maintenance than a train track

    • @clray123
      @clray123 Рік тому

      Replace cool with mildly amusing.

  • @Michaelthekiwi
    @Michaelthekiwi Рік тому +124

    So cool - plus (as someone learning Japanese) I appreciate that Ootani-San spoke slowly and clearly so I could understand him - or least get the meaning of what he was saying. I'm only up to two years of studying, but covered up the subtitles as a challenge to myself.

  • @HolyMoses33
    @HolyMoses33 Рік тому +33

    The japanese rep had a really great energy, I'm sure he does these presentations all the time, just loved his use of gestures and the way he talked

  • @gidikalchhauser
    @gidikalchhauser Рік тому +83

    I love that Mr Naoyoshi makes his hand gestures so that his opposite can understand them (1:29). That's something I picked up when tutoring math students. It requires both a high degree of freedom of movement and a high level of conceptual abstraction - all inspired by a deep feeling of "the goal of my communication is your understanding and nothing else".

  • @tommyfrerking
    @tommyfrerking Рік тому +368

    I love that Tom Scott and The Tim Traveler both came out with bus/train hybrid videos within a week of each other!

    • @brunoais
      @brunoais Рік тому +34

      And one is ending while the other is just getting started (although with 1 year already)

    • @GreRe9
      @GreRe9 Рік тому +1

      +

    • @craigbates178
      @craigbates178 Рік тому +3

      Tim is the new (next) Tom!

    • @thesteelrodent1796
      @thesteelrodent1796 Рік тому +37

      maybe we can get a Tim Tom collab one day

    • @kelvinc
      @kelvinc Рік тому +10

      Revenge for Tim making a reaction ferry video 😈

  • @Serenity_Dee
    @Serenity_Dee Рік тому +240

    The delight on Tom's face at "Mode change, start!" is a whole mood.

    • @DugrozReports
      @DugrozReports Рік тому +8

      Transformers…. More than meets the eye…

  • @AverytheCubanAmerican
    @AverytheCubanAmerican Рік тому +46

    Finally a DMV I look forward to seeing! I love the little tune the DMV makes when it becomes a train. They didn't need to do the drumming, but it's the little things that truly count, and I'm glad they did. And the fact that it has a gift shop with plushes and rock candy too is just absolutely delightful. One thing not mentioned is that, it was also designed to help senior citizens move around. When in bus mode, it can do a lot of other stops around town to pick up passengers before heading to the tracks. This can make it a lot more convenient and more profitable, as it dramatically reduces peoples' need for cars. Once a person is in a car, they tend to just drive to their destination. But if a bus is right there and is easier and less stress, they'll often take it. So by making it convenient it to people to use, they dramatically increase the incentive and thus profitability.
    Nancy and Caen in France once had a concept which used Bombardier Guided Light Transit. They're buses that could not only operate independently as a bus, but were also capable of turning into trams. Meaning when they're a tram, they're powered by an overhead wire. But instead of riding on rails, they run on rubber tires. Because of the fact they don't need a guidance rail, calling them a tram is quite debatable (especially compared to the Translohr). Caen got rid of theirs in 2017 in favor of a legit tramway, while Nancy ended theirs this March in favor of bringing back their trolleybuses. Adelaide has something similar too called the O-Bahn which are legitimate buses that run on their own concrete tracks that opened back in 1986

  • @LHyoutube
    @LHyoutube Рік тому +45

    2:07 - I love that they seemingly allocated a viewing area for all of the rail nerds! 😂

  • @SunnyS5
    @SunnyS5 Рік тому +237

    I like their transparency about this absolutely being a gadgetbahn tbh, not many city governments are willing to admit that they’re A. Dumping money into a low key silly rail solution and B. Actually makes something fun and actually marketable out of it

    • @CaseNumber00
      @CaseNumber00 Рік тому +25

      Japan has a lot of gimmicky attractions and other stuff. The obvious one is many unique foods like Kit Kat chocolates and fast food stuffs.

    • @arekkrol9758
      @arekkrol9758 Рік тому +19

      i think it is quite smart way to save rail, otherwise the busses would just take road and the rail would be gone

    • @TheSultan1470
      @TheSultan1470 Рік тому

      Um... really fun, I guess

  • @danielhale1
    @danielhale1 Рік тому +29

    That's a neat design. As you said, the main goal is novelty tourists, and that's a good way to view it. But I like that they also have plans for disaster response. And it's there to keep the railways afloat in the area so they don't lose a long-term investment due to (hopefully) shorter-term demographic shifts.

    • @LWoodGaming
      @LWoodGaming Рік тому

      if this was the USA, they just rip off all the rail, and not think about long-term at all.

  • @FW25
    @FW25 Рік тому +279

    "I've just revolutionised public transport! :D "
    "Is it just a bus or a train?"
    "Yes... :("

  • @pointandclickgaming1854
    @pointandclickgaming1854 Рік тому +90

    This is quite similar to the Adelaide O-Bahn in Australia which started operating in 1989, however this one uses existing tracks and the O-Bahn had new ones built exclusively for it. Also the O-Bahn drives directly onto the tracks and guide wheels pop out of the side to direct it as opposed to having train wheels.

    • @carlosrivera3260
      @carlosrivera3260 Рік тому +12

      I see more differences than similarities between this and the Adelaided O-Bahn. What you're referring to is a guided busway.

    • @Charky_Creations
      @Charky_Creations Рік тому +2

      There's an "o-bahn" in Japan too- Yutorito

    • @Poisson4147
      @Poisson4147 Рік тому

      The two systems address the same problem but are VERY different. The O-Bahn uses concrete guides rather than steel rails, and its use is limited to buses. Also it needed new, bespoke construction. Hybrids are designed to run on existing steel rails without special accommodations or new construction.

  • @cameronr8707
    @cameronr8707 Рік тому +16

    The way he explains everything and the hand motions, I love it

  • @timgb7882
    @timgb7882 Рік тому +83

    As one of the people who submitted this idea to the video ideas form, it made me so happy to see this video appear on my feed! I love how happy Tom is riding the bus-train!

    • @timgb7882
      @timgb7882 Рік тому +11

      To think picking street view locations in Japan in Google maps (which was how I found out about this train) would play a very small part in a Tom Scott video is rather mind boggling.

    • @nilsdammfeld6011
      @nilsdammfeld6011 Рік тому +5

      Oh i suggestet it, too! Really cool bua/Trainer that fits to his Videos really well.

  • @stevenfreebairn2553
    @stevenfreebairn2553 Рік тому +78

    Really loving the DMV conversion tune--it's like the Transformers theme song with a decidedly more marching band feel.

    • @stephenbachmann1171
      @stephenbachmann1171 Рік тому

      It’s Awa Odori. Tokushima’s traditional dance. You can google it. It’s spectacular

    • @kkobayashi1
      @kkobayashi1 Рік тому +4

      I think it’s traditional dance festival music (awa odori).

  • @mildlycornfield
    @mildlycornfield Рік тому +85

    The music that plays while the vehicle is 'transforming' is delightful, and exactly the kind of thing that would draw massive nerd tourists to this kind of thing. I love it so much (and also I want to explore that gift shop!)

    • @myladycasagrande863
      @myladycasagrande863 Рік тому +1

      I kind of hope that they have plushies that play the jingle.

  • @LazarouDave
    @LazarouDave Рік тому +11

    The way the ASA Chief speaks, it's very relaxing listening to him describing the operation and backstory to the idea

  • @flintwolf3951
    @flintwolf3951 Рік тому +10

    i love how everything in japan comes with a theme song / tune. it is amazing, so charming

  • @Janokins
    @Janokins Рік тому +109

    I thought this was going to be like the one in France that goes between what is essentially a trolleybus and a regular bus, but no, this is proper! I am impressed.

    • @xdn22
      @xdn22 Рік тому

      same

    • @tfofurn
      @tfofurn Рік тому +36

      The one Tim Traveler just covered?

    • @alfect
      @alfect Рік тому +2

      I thought it would be like the Leigh guided busway, I am also impressed

  • @yabbaguy
    @yabbaguy Рік тому +210

    2:50 - subtly demonstrating the "point and call" - a very common safety technique for Japanese train conductors and others working on the railway. You may have heard about it from other videos and articles.

    • @WanukeX
      @WanukeX Рік тому +8

      It has had some adoption outside of Japan, GO Transit in Toronto, Canada also has used “Point and Call” since 2021.

    • @Kyrelel
      @Kyrelel Рік тому +2

      Not sure your timestamp is correct

    • @kenbrown2808
      @kenbrown2808 Рік тому +20

      I have heard of it. it makes sense, so it will never be adopted in the US.

    • @kakyoindonut3213
      @kakyoindonut3213 Рік тому +1

      I just seen the video demonstration of it now, it is very fascinating

    • @venividivelcrovideo
      @venividivelcrovideo Рік тому +4

      @@kenbrown2808 in fact, it is used in the us. You can see conductors point and call before opening the doors after they pull into the station in every NYC subway station.
      They point at zebra striped boards that indicate that the train has stopped at the correct location so that all cars will open onto the platform, not onto the track.

  • @braxbro6674
    @braxbro6674 Рік тому +3

    I feel like this could actually become very reasonable for an electric vehicle, since it'd be able to hook into an electrified rail and use that for power while possibly recharging batteries for road use. And if you managed to get it able to transition while still moving... this idea is really cool.

    • @MusikCassette
      @MusikCassette 7 місяців тому

      the bus serving one of the tram lines while recharging.

  • @ez45
    @ez45 Рік тому +7

    That jingle is the most Japanese thing ever. Love it.

  • @wineandwaistcoats
    @wineandwaistcoats Рік тому +35

    The drums and the transformation from bus to train instantly made me think Tom had just found himself in an episode of Thunderbirds.

    • @doubl2480
      @doubl2480 Рік тому

      5... 4... 3... 2... 1... DMVs are go!

  • @BuoBuoLi
    @BuoBuoLi Рік тому +11

    I love how the bus goes:
    "MODE CHANGE, START!!"
    (mode change music blasting)

    • @Jayfive276
      @Jayfive276 Рік тому +1

      I was half-expecting a Sailor Moon style transformation sequence.

  • @Ramonatho
    @Ramonatho Рік тому +11

    This is the most "Why not both?" moment I've ever seen, but I will never get over a train with a standard Toyota steering wheel on it.

  • @johndeerdrew
    @johndeerdrew Рік тому +5

    I used to drive a bus. I have no clue what driving a train feels like but I can imagine. This fascinates me beyond mere curiosity.

  • @possibly_ben
    @possibly_ben Рік тому +3

    can we just appreciate the smooth precision driving at 4:36

  • @kylegonewild
    @kylegonewild Рік тому +18

    The amount of effort to translate for English speakers so that guests can speak in their most comfortable and/or only language is always appreciated.

  • @YourWishes
    @YourWishes Рік тому +14

    Next time you're back in Australia you should check out a similar thing in Adelaide with the O-Bahn Busway

    • @matthewsj
      @matthewsj Рік тому +1

      My thoughts exactly.

    • @zyeborm
      @zyeborm Рік тому

      That'd be the "guided busways" he spoke about

  • @FilmscoreMetaler
    @FilmscoreMetaler Рік тому +75

    This could have been a collab with TheTimTraveller whose last video was on a very similar vehicle concept. =)

    • @Yorie1234
      @Yorie1234 Рік тому +9

      Although this seems like the smarter way around than a bus with a rail in the midde, this doesn't have the same road wear problems.

    • @PurpleShift42
      @PurpleShift42 Рік тому +6

      I forgot that Tom's last video about the world's "oldest business" was in Japan and I almost expected him to also have rushed out to film some of the last runs of the Nancy TVR when I read the title, because I'd watched said video by The Tim Traveller ("Why Nancy Is Scrapping Its Magically Bonkers Monorail-Bus-Trams", for the curious)

  • @Ocer.
    @Ocer. Рік тому +10

    Wow, the English dubbed audio track is incredible, definitely keep making those in these kinds of videos

    • @ZKtheMAN
      @ZKtheMAN Рік тому

      Oh wow, I didn't even notice there were different audio tracks, what the heck

  • @cube611
    @cube611 Рік тому +1

    You've been on Japan tour! It's good to see you in our country!

  • @eperkeeperke8316
    @eperkeeperke8316 Рік тому +6

    The genuine delight on Tom’s face made my day :)

  • @peterclarke7240
    @peterclarke7240 Рік тому +4

    A trasforming bus-train that plays a happy tune?! Genius. I want one!

  • @gene7887
    @gene7887 Рік тому +9

    Interesting, not because (as you rightly point out) for those of us who have worked on railways, hy-rail vehicles are commonplace. But typically those require a fair bit of inspection and a much longer process before being able to start traveling on the rail after driving on paved road. This is seamless and really neat. From a sustainability standpoint, it would make even more sense than ripping up an old railway and replacing with light rail or similar, and it's far more flexible from a scheduling standpoint. Would love to see this catch on elsewhere, even if only as a novelty, as I think in many places it could actually be much more practical than a replacement bus system.

    • @fltfathin
      @fltfathin Рік тому +3

      it's even more logical than self-driving car tunnel or that freight robot train thingy. i think rail maintenance is easier than highway maintenance but idk the real numbers

    • @kireharvey6844
      @kireharvey6844 Рік тому

      I was thinking I’d probably be a good solution for a lot of American cities that want rail transit,it can give you the potential speed from rail being separated like it is but also can give you flexibility like with buses, maybe when a train is holding up the railway you just use it as a bus instead. Shifting the route around it. Needs more R&D but smarter people can make it work

  • @higon99
    @higon99 Рік тому +6

    Dam, I have never imagined the days Mr. Scott travels through Japan. These videos are a dream ride for me.
    I hope you're having a great time there. And also it's a season of cherry blossom you MUST see it before you leave.

  • @davidstrohl
    @davidstrohl Рік тому +1

    This is the coolest thing I’ve seen all month!

  • @CarelessMiss
    @CarelessMiss Рік тому +11

    I love the translation. It keeps what he's saying concise, and making it sound a lot more natural for an English speaking audience.

  • @mariokartgamecube
    @mariokartgamecube Рік тому +4

    I found this thing through a Wikipedia rabbit hole 2 days ago and had a bunch of questions that Wikipedia couldn’t answer…it feels like this video was made just for me

  • @idantiroche7312
    @idantiroche7312 Рік тому +54

    Japan is something special, ain't it? Can't wait to visit, everything looks amazing

    • @Sithhy
      @Sithhy Рік тому +1

      I'd love to move there permanently. Their "art style" of buildings, road markings, people, flags etc etc. is just so nice & not seen anywhere else

    • @BLITZKRIEG1
      @BLITZKRIEG1 Рік тому

      you'll realise how far in the stone age you are

    • @deadboyo2773
      @deadboyo2773 Рік тому +9

      Warning to anyone who wants to move there, if you don't like paperwork, just don't also I hope you love waiting months for a bank statement, which you will need more often than anywhere else, it's a great place, but it's also the most bureaucratic nation in the world

    • @fireaza
      @fireaza Рік тому +1

      @@deadboyo2773 As someone who had to submit my identity 7 times before PayPay finally accepted it, yes.

    • @XMysticHerox
      @XMysticHerox Рік тому +4

      @@Sithhy I'd advise against it. Japan is rather xenophobic and there are a lot of issues besides.

  • @fietehermans9903
    @fietehermans9903 Рік тому +1

    Until last week, there was a similar system in Nancy, France. They used busses because trams can't go up steep hills. It closed last week, and now they're being replaced with regular busses

  • @dontbesuspicious3531
    @dontbesuspicious3531 Рік тому +4

    We have one of these in Adelaide. It’s called the obahn. It’s a great speedy way to get to the northern suburbs. Sometimes cars end up on the tracks by accident despite the giant flashing signs saying not to enter. Hilarious

    • @yosi1989
      @yosi1989 Рік тому

      In Japan, there is only one line of the same kind, called Yutorito Line, which runs from _Ozone_ to _Obata Ryokuchi_ in Nagoya city.

    • @markwright3161
      @markwright3161 Рік тому

      I think that's a guided busway, not a dual mode vehicle. There are at least a couple of those in the UK too as well as throughout Europe, etc. The buses still fully run on their tyres (here the front axle is lifted off the ground) and don't have additional sets of steel wheels for adapting them to steel rails. Those buses will have small horizontal caster-like wheels connected to the steering linkage under the bus which run against the high kerbs the busways have to guide the bus without the driver steering. It means those bus lanes (what they're more in line with than a railway) can be made with much less material as they don't have to be wide enough for a human driver to weave safely. This is natural weaving as the vehicle moves on it's suspension, driver in seat, etc, nothing extreme but something that means the tyres won't perfectly follow the exact same path every time they go down a certain piece of road. The lanes can also then only have 'road surface' under the tyres and no need for anything in between as the guide wheels on the sides mean the bus will follow the exact same path every time it goes down that lane.
      Technically any vehicle with a wide enough track (side-to-side distance between the wheels on each axle) can still use those busways if the driver pays enough attention to keep the wheels on the strips of concrete the buses run on. Cars will only get stuck because they have a significantly narrower track than the busses they were built for, and the type of driver who doesn't pay enough attention to the signage that highlights they're not suitable for anything other than those buses won't be paying enough attention to the surface to keep their wheels on those 2 strips of concrete, so they'll run off them into the gap and get stuck, much like someone driving off the edge of a narrow single track road with a soft verge or a ditch close to the road. It isn't the same as turning onto railway tracks after driving onto a level crossing, although people have done that too.
      I think Tom mentioned that they could have replaced this railway with a guided busway, instead of modifying buses to run on the rails then training dual licence drivers to drive them, but it was more cost effective to not tear up the railway or preferable to keep the railway intact for historic reasons or similar, alongside the tourism appeal of such a setup of course.

  • @brysonlambes7175
    @brysonlambes7175 Рік тому +7

    I love the little jingle that plays as it transforms, that's so japan.

  • @YeloPartyHat
    @YeloPartyHat Рік тому +8

    That end parking is very satisfying and I think Scott or his editor knows it

  • @gravityisnotreal9867
    @gravityisnotreal9867 Рік тому +6

    It cracks me up the Tom travels like 72 hours around the world and then puts out a 6 minute video. Especially because Ytubes algorithm is based on watch time. I could watch an hour of every one of his videos but I really appreciate what he is doing too.

  • @quadrupleheart
    @quadrupleheart Рік тому +1

    I remember Chris and Pete talking about this in the abroad in Japan podcast, if I recall correctly Chris specifically said this was something Tom Scott would make a video about a couple years ago!

  • @MissesWitch
    @MissesWitch Рік тому +3

    this is SO COOL! we need more of things like this!
    sure it's not going to be a specialist at either mode of travel but it just makes everything so much more simple

  • @Sosukz
    @Sosukz Рік тому +14

    Wow, I'm amazed by the buses that transform into trains in Japan! As a frequent traveler, I appreciate how innovative and convenient this transportation system is.

    • @SamSitar
      @SamSitar Рік тому +2

      it also eliminates one transfer as well.

    • @Jehty_
      @Jehty_ Рік тому

      What about this system is innovative or convenient?
      Innovative: Road-rail vehicles have been in use for a long long time.
      And not even the public bus part is anything new. Germany did that already in the 1950s.
      Convenient: Nothing about this is convenient. As stated in the video the route could be done by a normal bus.

  • @Shankalten
    @Shankalten Рік тому +83

    Japan is a place of wonder it amazes me how they strive to do things differently and always innovative while keeping traditions.

    • @Morpheus-pt3wq
      @Morpheus-pt3wq Рік тому +3

      Well, they have very large population, living on few small islands. The rest of the world should take an example from them and start building cities vertically. Just don´t copy their work habits...

  • @kuhttifrutti2826
    @kuhttifrutti2826 Рік тому +42

    Dude speaks beautifully understandable Japanese, even I understood some phrases even though I haven't spoken it in over 15 years

    • @griffhawkins8909
      @griffhawkins8909 Рік тому +2

      I don't know a lick of Japanese, but I've played all of the Yakuza games (at least those available in the US) and i've always felt like their spoken Japanese is very easy to follow. Everything is really well emoted and its all enunciated so well. There are so many individual words and phrases from the games that are just burned into my memory at this point, and I could instantly recognize them if I hear it elsewhere - even if I don't actually know the language or what those words mean.

    • @TheMinecraftMan757
      @TheMinecraftMan757 Рік тому +2

      @@griffhawkins8909 Yakuza inspired me to learn Japanese.
      Granted, I couldn't pick up on much from this video, but it's such a neat language

  • @davep5698
    @davep5698 Рік тому

    The little announcement or change, music and transition death me smile.
    I needed that.

  • @AndyFoster405
    @AndyFoster405 Рік тому +6

    The guy explaining about the train - his hand gestures are on point! Excellent use of his hands to explain different concepts!

  • @kier_eli
    @kier_eli Рік тому +98

    Gotta love human creativity when brains cooperate 😁

    • @jokervynehahaha5568
      @jokervynehahaha5568 Рік тому +3

      Let us engage in Jolly Co-operation! 🌞

    • @PurpleDuneEfa
      @PurpleDuneEfa Рік тому

      quick, we need innovation, our business is dying.
      *Let's put a minibus on train tracks*

    • @nkt1
      @nkt1 Рік тому

      Vehicles like these have been around for decades, they’ve just used a bus body on this example.

    • @cwg73160
      @cwg73160 Рік тому

      These types of vehicles already existed before your narrow view of the world came upon them.

  • @jackchapo2011
    @jackchapo2011 Рік тому +5

    I have been on something similar to this in Adelaide in Australia. I do remember it passing through some kind of very small tunnel to proceed to the track. The transfer took less than a few seconds. It progressed along a river almost like a series of bridges or the like. I understand it is still running.

  • @jimn.1132
    @jimn.1132 Рік тому +3

    from someone who works in theme park transportation, this hits on two VERY niche special interests of mine. great video, Tom!

  • @Brave_Sir_Robin
    @Brave_Sir_Robin Рік тому +1

    What an eloquent speaker. His hand motions were on point

  • @thomascurcio1792
    @thomascurcio1792 Рік тому +1

    CSX has a tone of pickup trucks like those in the US!

  • @mafarnz
    @mafarnz Рік тому +4

    The best part about this is that it preserves the railway for future possible train use, for passenger or freight. In the US the immediate reaction once trains stop running (sometimes even before) is to rip up the tracks and turn it into a bike path. Once you do that you can never put tracks back down and run trains.

  • @Grisu1805
    @Grisu1805 Рік тому +15

    In the 50s and 60s West-Germany had something similar, the "Schienen-Straßen-Omnibus" (literally "rail-road-bus"). It was mainly used in southern Germany, but relied on special dollies at the stations where it changed modes.

  • @Jaichbinhier
    @Jaichbinhier Рік тому +27

    2:14 I think the vehicles would be much more popular on rails and roads
    If people knew of the sound effects that play when switching modes. 😄

  • @StriKe_jk
    @StriKe_jk Рік тому +1

    I love the little jingle they play when switching to train mode

  • @kelvinchin5942
    @kelvinchin5942 11 місяців тому

    Instead of separated bus lane, this is very creative which preserve the track and reduce cost

  • @nikha1291
    @nikha1291 Рік тому +7

    There was a similar bus / train hybird in Germany in the 1950s called the "Schi-Stra-Bus", but it wasn't very successful because switching between modes was impractical

  • @Jeagles
    @Jeagles Рік тому +5

    We had these in England once.
    In the 1930s, the London Midland and Scottish Railway built an experimental version known as the “Ro-Railer”, which saw a couple of years in service.
    In the 1980s another experimental vehicle was built from an old Bristol LH but this never made it out of a few tests.
    Finally, British Rail invented the Class 142, a train made out of spare Leyland Bus parts. This saw some thirty years in service but was never able to actually travel on the road.

  • @SeanA099
    @SeanA099 Рік тому +2

    My hometown used to have something like this back in the 1940s I think. Fairfax, VA

  • @bobsrailrelics
    @bobsrailrelics Рік тому +1

    I have seen this in a few videos but yours is the best explanation of why it is there. A practical solution but also a tourist attraction. And I really want a plush! Thanks Tom.

  • @SquareyCircley
    @SquareyCircley Рік тому +2

    I see you and appreciate your effort, translator! 1:37 -- 同じ結果若しくは結果は下がっていく → "stagnate and decline" -- nice!

  • @roelieboy204
    @roelieboy204 Рік тому +3

    In the Netherlands there is a "waterbus" a normal bus that can drive into the water and then sail like a boat.
    I think he already made a video on them.

    • @MaximBaranov5
      @MaximBaranov5 Рік тому +1

      I think we have these in Washington DC too! I haven't seen them in a few years though, maybe they stopped running

  • @jsml337g05u
    @jsml337g05u Рік тому +49

    I've always wondered why transportation doesn't have more flexibility like this. Like all those concepts from the past of cars that can drive into the water and turn into a boat, or the multiple generations we've talked about flying cars.

    • @HiddenWindshield
      @HiddenWindshield Рік тому +76

      Practicality. Every single car-boat we've ever come up with (and there have been dozens, if not hundreds) is both a crappy car and a crappy boat. Ditto with all the various attempts at flying cars over the years.

    • @novh4ck
      @novh4ck Рік тому +31

      Trains are made to be very high capacity. Buses are made to be smaller, mobile and lighter. Combining both into one just makes a hybrid which is not a good bus and not a good train.

    • @blkgardner
      @blkgardner Рік тому +13

      A "flying car" is literally a personal airplane or helicopter that can (kind of) drive on a street. The sci-fi trope of bumper-to-bumper flying cars between skyscrapers is absurd.

    • @mivatic
      @mivatic Рік тому +12

      @@HiddenWindshield I don't agree with you. There are excellent quality amphibious vehicles, but they are not profitable, so they are not developed. More often they serve for help and salvation. Everything that does not bring money is not interesting, unfortunately.

    • @vibce
      @vibce Рік тому +2

      Just getting a boat and a car will almost always be cheaper, easier, and more practical than a hybrid

  • @JoeBleasdaleReal
    @JoeBleasdaleReal Рік тому +5

    More public transport needs a theme tune 😂

  • @Anonymous_world5000
    @Anonymous_world5000 8 місяців тому +1

    Japan is the most technologically advanced country in the world. I love Japan 🇯🇵❤️😊

  • @RiskOfBaer
    @RiskOfBaer Рік тому +1

    DMV and cool in the same sentence, never thought I'd see the day.

  • @vaclavnutil2646
    @vaclavnutil2646 Рік тому +18

    There were bus-tram hybrids in Nancy, France used as regular public transit, but they got replaced maybe a week or two ago. They were active for around 30 years and were definitely a sight to see when i was there!

    • @thezpn
      @thezpn Рік тому +18

      Shout out to The Tim Traveler for covering the last use of Nancy's tram-bus

    • @joegrey9807
      @joegrey9807 Рік тому +1

      But they didn't run on normal rails

  • @marcleslac2413
    @marcleslac2413 Рік тому +3

    3:54 its been turned into a marketable plush

  • @xxpbfoolxx
    @xxpbfoolxx Рік тому +13

    Exceptional!

  • @patrickb751
    @patrickb751 Рік тому +1

    I'll count myself as that tourist too. If I ever get the chance to visit Japan, this one is on my checklist

  • @nicstroud
    @nicstroud Рік тому +2

    0:29 Who thought Tom would walk backwards into that bollard?

  • @Kae-Lexi
    @Kae-Lexi Рік тому +5

    Thinking about it, japan with all of its infrastructure and trains must be so exciting for Tom, kind of surprised he didn't keep this for the finale of the series

  • @rashkavar
    @rashkavar Рік тому +11

    Just a heads up, Tom: for viewers who use UA-cam subtitles, the subtitle [In Japanese] shows up over and blocking most of the subtitles built into the video that actually translate what people are saying. I generally advise channels to put their in-video subtitles a bit higher - give it enough space to fit the 2 lines of UA-cam subtitles below it - but for situations like this, I suspect it might be viable to do whatever is needed to blank out the UA-cam subtitles entirely when the in video ones appear - that would make it virtually seamless going from one to the other.

  • @MattTrevett
    @MattTrevett Рік тому +3

    Thank you for including the original spoken audio in addition to the dub and descriptive forms. Also I should say that Naoyoshi is very well-spoken and easy to understand.

  • @areebshaukat5840
    @areebshaukat5840 Рік тому +2

    I rode it and it's such an amazing experience. The transition is so seamless

  • @cheffress
    @cheffress Рік тому +1

    Check out the o-Bahn in Adelaide Australia. A bus that runs on concrete “rails”. No extra wheels required.