Why Did the Newest AGT Vehicles Open Up the Space Under the Seats? — The Optimal Solution for the "Backpack Era"

In the 1980s, when AGT first debuted

in Japan, "backpacks" were not part

of the daily commute. Businesspeople

carried briefcases, and students used

shoulder bags. Because of this, the

first-generation AGT cars were

designed without luggage racks.

However, the explosive popularity of

"backpack commuting" since the

2000s brought a new challenge to

small-bodied AGT vehicles: intense

congestion that became a critical issue

for operations.

Second-generation vehicles took on

the challenge of redefining their limited

interior space. The most notable

change is under the seats. In older

models, this area was "dead space"

packed with equipment. In the latest

second-generation cars, such as the

Yurikamome 7300 series and the New

Shuttle 2000 series, this equipment

was relocated to the ends of the cars,

opening up the space under the seats

for luggage.

Furthermore, by expanding the car’s

cross-section to a size comparable to

linear motor subways like the Oedo

Line, designers were able to install

overhead luggage racks spanning the

entire length of the car.

This two-pronged approach

—addressing space both above and

below—has dramatically reduced the

cramped feeling caused by large

backpacks and sports bags.

This is more than just adding extra

equipment. It represents a record of

evolution where small AGT vehicles

overcame their physical constraints to

achieve a level of hospitality equal to

standard commuter trains. In the past,

the Rokko Liner and Astram Line

offered "modest gestures" of

convenience, such as allowing

passengers to place bags on top of

waist-high equipment boxes at the car

ends. Today, those small

considerations have been elevated

into a "standard design philosophy"

for the entire system.

Every backpack placed on a rack

effectively widens the standing space

for other passengers by several

centimeters. The next time you board

a new AGT vehicle, take a moment to

look at the space under your seat or

the racks above your head. There,

you will find the sincere ingenuity of

an infrastructure that sensitive to the

changing times, squeezing every bit of

"room for the passenger" out of its

limited space.

I hope you look forward to the next

AGT Blog!