1.
on-board sales; trolley service on trains
The service of selling food, drinks, and souvenirs from a cart pushed through the aisles of trains, especially Shinkansen and limited express trains. This service has been declining in Japan due to changing passenger habits.
車内販売でコーヒーを買う。
To buy coffee from the on-board trolley service.
新幹線の車内販売が終了した。
The Shinkansen's trolley service has been discontinued.
かつては車内販売で弁当やお土産を買うのが列車旅行の楽しみだった。
Buying boxed lunches and souvenirs from the trolley service used to be one of the pleasures of train travel.
USAGE:
A familiar term for anyone who has traveled by Shinkansen. JR East ended regular trolley service on the Tokaido Shinkansen in 2023, making this increasingly a nostalgic term, though some routes still offer it.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 車内販売のワゴン (the on-board sales cart)
- 車内販売を利用する (to use the trolley service)
- 車内販売が廃止される (trolley service to be abolished)