People are seen working on desks set up inside parked train cars in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. (Mainichi/Takashi Seido)

       TOKOROZAWA, Saitama -- Seibu Railway Co. offered a working space aboard five train cars parked at a station here for baseball fans wishing to work until shortly before night games at a nearby stadium.

       Workers using the paid space at Seibukyujo-mae Station could hear regular trains coming and going, as well as station announcements and other sounds. But they were apparently concentrating on typing into their PCs on long tables set up inside the train cars.

       The special service, limited to Oct. 7 and 8, was designed to allow users to work remotely until shortly before night games held at MetLife Dome, the home stadium for the Saitama Seibu Lions professional baseball team.

       The novel initiative was devised after people were heard complaining that they struggle to make it in time for evening games after work. As the baseball club continues to restrict the number of spectators allowed at game venues, it remains to be seen how the team and the railway operator will go about the initiative from next season.

       (Japanese original by Takashi Seido, Tokorozawa Local Bureau)

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