Penguin to conduct Japanese train

A railway company in western Japan is offering spots on a train to be conducted by an African penguin.

The Ichibata Electric Railway Co., based in Izumo, said tickets will be available from Friday for a Saturday ride on a train featuring Haruka the penguin in the conductor's uniform.



The penguin, from Matsue Vogel Park, will lead the train on round-trip service along Lake Shinji in Matsue, the railway company said.

"I hope the special train will be packed with many passengers, enough to make our penguin conductor work hard," an Ichibata official said.