Rail Operator Adds Digital Tech To Station Washrooms
A railway operator in western Japan is adopting the latest in digital technology to make the cleanup of its station washrooms more efficient.
West Japan Railway developed a system with a Tokyo-based tech firm. It features toilet paper and soap dispensers embedded with sensors that tell cleaners when refills are needed.
Sensors are also attached to the doors of cubicles to let staff know when they are unoccupied. That's seen as a time-saver.
Another innovation are toilet seats with a function to prevent clogging. That also helps reduce the workload as the rail operator faces staff shortages.
The company says cleaning railway washrooms requires a lot of manpower so developing a more efficient system is beneficial.
JR West will introduce the technology at a new station due to open in Osaka City next spring. It will consider outfitting other stations after a trial period and may also offer the system for use at expressway rest areas and airports.