The Shinkansen are fast but onboard food sales slowing

The Japanese Shinkansen, generally known as bullet trains and famed for their high speeds, are phasing out sales of food. The trains have been operating since 1964 and their popular food carts have always been an enjoyment for passengers. However in recent years, not only has there been less demand for food onboard, 1.__________ there has been no shortage of food sales on platforms. People are either buying from vending machines 2.__________ bringing their own food such as the traditional Japanese bento boxed lunches.

The change takes place this autumn on the original bullet train connection between Tokyo and Osaka. 3.__________ customers with a desire for food, it will only be available in the first-class carriages 4.__________ only if purchased in advance via an app. The slower Kodama bullet train on the same Tokyo-Osaka service already stopped food cart sales in 2012. Now the same applies on the other services, 5.__________ the faster Nozomi and Hikari trains. 6.__________ as travellers pass by landmarks such as Mount Fuji, they will need to have made alternative plans for food, 7.__________ stay hungry.

This also signals a reduction in the number of cabin crew who would be needed to push the carts up and down the aisles. 8.__________ they will be dressed more simply. Female staff will neither have to wear skirts 9.__________ hats, they can be at ease in trousers and without hats. 10.__________ the crew will still follow Japanese etiquette, bowing when entering and leaving the coaches.

The Japanese Shinkansen, generally known as bullet trains and famed for their high speeds, are phasing out sales of food. The trains have been 1._______________ since 1964 and their popular food carts have always been an 2._______________ for passengers. However in recent years, not only has there been less demand for food onboard, but also there has been no 3._______________ of food sales on platforms. People are either buying from vending machines or bringing their own food such as the traditional Japanese bento boxed lunches.

The change takes place this autumn on the original bullet train 4._______________ between Tokyo and Osaka. For customers with a desire for food, it will only be available in the first-class 5._______________ and only if purchased in advance via an app. The slower Kodama bullet train on the same Tokyo-Osaka service already stopped food cart sales in 2012. Now the same 6._______________ on the other services, both the faster Nozomi and Hikari trains. So as travellers pass by 7._______________ such as Mount Fuji, they will need to have made alternative plans for food, or stay hungry.

This also signals a 8._______________ in the number of cabin crew who would be needed to push the carts up and down the aisles. Plus they will be dressed more 9._______________. Female staff will neither have to wear skirts nor hats, they can be at ease in trousers and without hats. Yet the crew will still follow Japanese 10._______________, bowing when entering and leaving the coaches.