Japan
- inspiration for the A-Train series
Urban development and the railways of Japan are intimately associated. After nationalising their railways, the Japanese government imposed strict caps on profits the numerous new rail companies could make. This gave rise to a diversifying of the businesses into other areas (like hotels, entertainments, housing, bus services and suchlike) to support rail expansion. Some of the train companies became powerful conglomerates. In a few cases whole new towns grew up around a particular station with the rail company controlling many local services and housing. In a very real sense they created their own captive market: Local residents rented the rail company's housing and spent money on its buses and facilities, all conveniently located around the train station.
The Tokyu Group is a good example - a major private railway company with supporting business interest in hotels, entertainment, leisure and department stores such as Tokyu Hands.
A-Train is based upon this Japanese business model: A rail company and scheduling game at it's heart, with associated commercial development and dealings.
A greater appreciation of the game may be aquired from just a little awareness of the real-life commerce, transport and construction.
Here, then, we take a look at the aspects of Japan which directly inspired the A-Train series: The trains and stations; the commercial and residential buildings; and the landscape.
