Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Graburn (1983, p6) refers to the functionality of Japanese trains as a way
of getting from one destination to another, but comments that there still
remains, in Japanese culture, 'a very important emotional attachment to trains
and what they represent: separations, journeys, nostalgic yearnings for the far-
away, etcetera'. There is also a representation of the past in relation to train
terminals and railway structures and architecture alongside the lines, which
remain as icons of the past to be absorbed by the contemporary passenger
(Urry and Sheller, 2004). This is only one part of the train travel gaze; the
casual observation of the proximate environs of the railway corridor is an
essential ingredient of slow travel. As the urban environment gives way to
country landscapes, the train offers glimpses of the areas through which it
passes: industrial wastelands, graffiti and rubbish, railway gardens and tight
streetscapes of older neighbourhoods leading eventually to the leafier subur-
ban peripheries. Even in the late evening, the shades of light and darkness
bring to the imagination different perceptions of places foregone and those
which lie ahead.
In sum, the travel experience is not one of passive consumption; the expec-
tation of the journey is tempered by the dextrous crafting of time in the
creation of a temporal and spatial identity (Dann, 1999). The slow traveller is
very much the co-producer of the train journey, which is in many respects a
performance involving other people, buildings and movement; it is multi-
faceted and multi-sensory (see, for example, Watts, 2009).
Environmental issues
There is some debate whether or not fast trains can be included in the overall
compass of slow travel. The discussion has focused around the introduction
of high-speed trains which, it is argued, belie the principles of slow travel.
Travel at speeds of 200km per hour over ground is seen as a contradiction
with the overall underpinning philosophy of slowness. On the other hand,
most trains still operate in a relatively slow manner and over relatively short
distances; these definitely fall into the categorization of slow travel.
The argument for inclusion of high-speed trains is more problematic, as
the rationale and design of such services are to reduce the duration of travel
time between destinations. Nevertheless, the fundamental elements and per-
ceived benefits of slow travel remain apposite for high-speed trains as to their
slower counterparts within the network. They still operate from city termini,
replete in heritage, social congregation and accessible to residents and tourists.
They pass through landscapes at speeds while still allowing perusal through
windows, and which reflect the diversity of each region. This is perhaps one
of the main objections; the landscapes and urban features are less discernible
at high speeds. The slow traveller, however, shares the journey with others;
they still co-produce the journey alongside fellow passengers and service deliv-
ery staff on board.
Another more substantive issue is whether or not trains live up to
their reputation for having a relatively low environmental impact. This is espe-
cially relevant to the overall conceptual framework of slow travel, which
