日本新幹線的「七分鐘奇蹟」

Front 1

日本的子彈列車以其速度和效率聞名全球，不是嗎？

Back 1

Japan's bullet trains are famous the world over for their speed and efficiency, aren't they?

Front 2

每天多達一百六十八個班次的高速火車抵達和駛離東京。

Back 2

Every day, up to 168 fast trains arrive and depart Tokyo.

Front 3

清潔人員僅有七分鐘的時間清理每列火車，

Back 3

Well, the cleaning crews get just seven minutes to work on each train,

Front 4

寶拉．漢考克斯得知這被稱為「七分鐘奇蹟」。

Back 4

and as Paula Hancocks found out, it's known as "the seven-minute miracle."

Front 5

這裡是東京車站的月台，

Back 5

The platforms at Tokyo Station,

Front 6

世界最快的火車在這裡進行最快的迴車。

Back 6

where the world's fastest trains get the quickest turnaround.

Front 7

他們稱之為新幹線劇場，而這場表演即將展開。

Back 7

They call this the "Shinkansen Theater," and the show is about to begin.

Front 8

這場行動真的是計畫到了最後一秒鐘。

Back 8

This operation is planned literally to the very last second.

Front 9

如果各位記得，這列火車實際上在車站裡只會停留約十二分鐘。

Back 9

If you bear in mind, the train's only actually in the station for about 12 minutes.

Front 10

在這段時間裡，要讓乘客下車，

Back 10

In that time, you have to get the passengers off.

Front 11

同時還要讓新乘客上車。

Back 11

You also have to introduce new passengers.

Front 12

所以只剩下大約七分鐘的時間讓清潔小組工作，

Back 12

So, it really only leaves about seven minutes for the team to do their job,

Front 13

他們暱稱這七分鐘為「七分鐘奇蹟」。

Back 13

and they affectionately call those seven minutes "the seven-minute miracle."

Front 14

瀨戶口秀和從事這份工作已經有六個月。

Back 14

Hidekazu Setoguchi has been at this for six months.

Front 15

時間不算長，但已經足以讓他了解到他所清理的不只是一列火車而已，

Back 15

Not a long time, but long enough to know that he's cleaning more than a train.

Front 16

他在照顧一個國家象徵。

Back 16

He's looking after a national icon.

Front 17

「大多數人沒機會搭新幹線，」他說。

Back 17

"Most people don't get a chance to ride the Shinkansen," he says.

Front 18

這火車會有全球各地的外交官、大使和長官們會前來觀摩，

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It's a train that diplomats, ambassadors and governors from around the world come to see

Front 19

來看清潔人員配合他們所清理的新幹線火車的速度和效率，

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and to watch the crews match the speed and efficiency of the Shinkansens they clean,

Front 20

一天多達一百六十八個班次。

Back 20

up to 168 trains a day.

Front 21

「我的動作必須非常快，」瀨戶口說：「否則會來不及做完。」

Back 21

"I have to do this very quickly," Setoguchi says, "or I can't finish in time."

Front 22

他的七分鐘到了，該是離開車廂的時候。

Back 22

His seven minutes are up. It's time to leave the cabin.

Front 23

「我幾乎沒有機會在乘客上車時看他們的臉，」

Back 23

"I hardly have a chance to see a passenger's face when they enter the train,"

Front 24

瀨戶口告訴我：「但是我總是希望他們會有一趟舒適的旅程。」

Back 24

Setoguchi tells me. "But I always hope they'll have a comfortable journey."

Front 25

就這樣，新幹線劇場落幕的方式和開演時一樣，

Back 25

And with that, the Shinkansen Theater ends the same way it began,

Front 26

清潔人員向乘客致上最後敬禮，然後離開他們的舞台。

Back 26

one last bow to the passengers before the crew exits their stage.