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In a surprising turn of events, JR East, the operator of the renowned Train Suite Shiki-shima, a luxury sleeper train, has announced the cancellation of an upcoming journey due to a tipping scandal involving its staff.
The misconduct, which occurred on the Train Suite Shiki-shima, has led to the dismissal of six employees, whose names have not been disclosed. The nature of the misdemeanor is not specified, but it is understood that it involved excessive alcohol consumption as part of a "quality control" testing process.
The cancelled journey was a two-night, one-day trip costing over US$3,000, scheduled for August 30 around Niigata and Nagato. This unfortunate incident has caused manpower shortages for JR East, a subsidiary of East Japan Railway Company.
JR East View Tourism and Sales, the subsidiary responsible for tourism and sales, made the announcement in Tokyo on August 23, 2023. In a statement, they expressed that the behaviour is unacceptable for those in a position to oversee the itinerary of guests. They further stated that the excessive alcohol consumption severely undermines trust in the business.
In response to the cancellation, JR East has expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused to those looking forward to the trip. They are currently working to ensure such incidents do not occur in the future.
The misconduct by the crew is believed to have started around September 2022. The details of the "quality control" testing that involved alcohol consumption are not detailed, but it is understood that it was not part of the standard operating procedures.
The luxury train trip included an in-train dinner with French cuisine, expensive wines, and a winery visit, making the incident all the more disappointing.
As the investigation continues, JR East and JR East View Tourism and Sales are committed to maintaining the high standards of service that their customers have come to expect. They are working diligently to restore trust and confidence in their brand.
