Smoking rooms in bullet trains on Japan’s Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines will be abolished in spring 2024, reports The Japan News.

The decision was made in light of growing health consciousness and declining smoking rates, Central Japan Railway Co., West Japan Railway Co. and Kyushu Railway Co. said.

The smoking rooms will be repurposed to provide emergency drinking water for passengers in case the trains have to stop for a long time between stations.

In addition, West Japan Railway will abolish all smoking areas without walls at Sanyo Shinkansen Line stations.

Smoking on Shinkansen trains has already been banned by both other Shinkansen operators East Japan Railway Co. and Hokkaido Railway Co.