Newsstand - Shinkansen (bullett) train losing pax to Japanese commuter airlines

http://www.asahi.com/english/business/TKY200310100143.html

If the first battle between airlines and bullet trains is any indication, the Shinkansen is in dire need of more firepower if it plans to win the war.

That article is a prime example of lying with statistics.... and it's missing the most important one: the Shinkansen's share of the Tokyo-Kansai market has been above 80% ever since it started operating. There are also comments like "the Hikari saw its passangers cut by 50 percent"; well, no duh, since half the previous Hikari services were converted into Nozomis!

Basically, JR was expecting a large boost when the Nozomi services were doubled and the new Shinagawa station was opened, but it only ended up getting a 3% increase (in one week!) because the airlines countered by offering free miles and lowering prices. Not very surprising, but the question is can the airlines keep handing out the goodies?

But the article gets one thing right: it is possible to get steeply discounted airline tickets even at relatively short notice, while only a few marginal discounts are available for the Shinkansen (5% for booking a return ticket etc).