A lot of footage of chihosen, old Japanese trains that run to rural areas.

Also called as the "Resort Train Setsugekka (Snow-Moon-Flower)", it is a tourist train running at Niigata near Joetsu.

The train is running along the railway company (part of) Mayoko Haneuma Line and Nihonkai Hisui Line. (with an extra station that is in another company)

as you can see, the line is also running along the Sinkansen, so I would believe it would be quite convenient to take the tourist train by Sinkansen.

The selling point of this train is beautiful scenery and beautifully designed train, for sure.

Crop from official website.

Late Pope even board this train?

As a side note, the two lines it is running on is originally operated by JR, but it is transfer to Echigo TOKImeki around 2015. The reason for handover is the JR seeing they are not profitable anymore after the extension of Hokuriku Shinkansen. (JR loving doing these sketchy actions...) So obviously, Echigo TOKImeki is created by the government itself to take care of this mess.

Also, it is said that everything present on this train is made locally in Niigata, including the food and the train itself.

For me, I may also take the train.... if I have enough money.

pretty great view for the front passenger (and driver)

Choshi Electric railway is a railway in rural Chiba. Their current rolling stock are (two) 2000 series and (one) 3000 series, which are second-hand trains from Iyo Railway, and also (one) 22000 series which is second-hand train from Nankai Railway. It operates a 6.4 km long railway, which is quite short. As the railway cover rural area, the ridership is low and facing financial crisis, since the beginning of operation. (which is obvious as it is a company to takeover the railway which was initially for sightseeing but had low ridership before takeover)

To improve the financial situation, they are now making rice crackers (ぬれ煎餅), "badly tasted stick (?)" (まずい棒) and more to cover the cost, and surprisingly, it is quite effective. The income from making these snack covers 80% of the total income, making the railway's operations more sustainable. You can purchase those from Choshi station, railway station at JR East, Keisei Railway and Chichibu Railway, and also Choushimaru in Narita Airport.

Speaking of which, some of the railway stations along the route is quite unique;

Kannon station

Kimigahama Station (do they run out of money when they build this station?)

Inubo Station

yummy demonstration of making ぬれ煎餅

22000 series

2000 series

While the financial situation is still alarming, the story of it has made into a film (トモシビ-銚子電鉄の小さな奇蹟), and I have high hope that the railway would survive.

Is train feasible for rural area where ridership is low? Operating a railway company that relies solely on passenger transportation is hard; however, integrating rail services with another business sector can be a much better idea. You can see that private railway company in Japan would setup departure store at their terminal, and some would even operate hotel and sell property. A railway company is not only just railway, but a way to connect another business and seek profit.

Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau 200 series run along the Nankō Port Town Line (also called New Tram), is manufactured by Niigata. Though it is originally own by Osaka Municipal Transportation Bureau, the line is run and mostly own by Osaka Metro due to history reason.

As you can see, it is not run on rail, but on concrete based railroad (guided road?). So, as you can guess, it is another Automated guideway transit. The reason for using AGT instead of normal railway is usually due to steep gradient present along the rail, and high capacity is needed.

However, using AGT has its drawback, which is high maintenance cost. Another AGT called Peachliner in Komaki has ceased operation in 2006 for such reason.

But if we look at the Osaka Metro route map, I believe the line can survive as it act as a way to connect Cosmosquare station and Suminokoen station also providing (the only transport) access to man-made Osaka South Port island.

But why AGT is used initially, as it is uncommon for private railway (that operate heavy rail) company to operate AGT. Well, the reason is the line originally is own and operated by the government, and somehow ended up operated by Osaka Metro for simplifying fare system and the government lost interest operating it.

The interior of the 200 series look a little bit cramped. Given the expected capacity (when planning the route) is higher than bus but lower than heavy rail, it should be enough for proving access to the man-made island.

Colorful

I forgot to post for 2 months......anyway, there is a panda livery, but I don't think you can find actual panda in Osaka.

But at least you can find actual Red panda at the Tennoji Zoo.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/29488757

Two decades on, a rail disaster near Osaka remains a painful reminder of what can go wrong when employees are pushed too hard. NHK WORLD's Sato Mariko brings us more from the site.

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Wayback Machine archive

Here are some notable tunes you may hear while traveling by train in Japan.

Uploaded to YouTube by NHK WORLD-JAPAN.

Wayback Machine Archive

Talking about Okinawa.....For me, Okinawa is a island where those the US army stationed and "a foreign country but does not require passport to enter" as describe by the Japanese. The only existing railway on Okinawa connect Naha Airport to Shuri station since 2003, with extension to Tedako-Uranishi open at 2019.

DMM advertisement livery.

Keikyu livery. Pushing urban express train service to a maximum extend.

Maintenance train. (so mysterious that the official website does not list any detail about it)

I hate to say, but monorail is pretty expensive and hard to maintenance. And monorail....a sort of American thing? I must say, Okinawa is influenced deeply by the American after world war.

Freedom delivery! If I have a chance, I would visit the army base... to see if I can send a USPS package from there.

A bus, or a train? Technically a bus, but run like a train. This is the Nagoya GuideWay-Bus, where guideway bus would run along the "rail" between Ōzone station and Obata Ryokuchi station.

entrance to the rail (road)

elevated road (rail) for the guideway bus

to keep the bus on track, (horizontal one) wheel is installed on the bus.

on road, the wheel is retracted.

platform of the station ... very simple. And does it have departure melody? well, sad answer, no.

so is it a train or a bus? I can only say that according to law, the elevated part is "rail". well, sort of a train?

(source from official twitter account of JR East)

The Upcoming E10 Sinkansen announced by JR East. Hmm, based on the information provided (source), it has a tiling system installed, and some fancy seat. It was said that it would be operated at 2030.

Green car seat

Regular seat

TRAIN DESK.... named by JR East. I don't know what is it for

(can it really reduce sound?)

The Green car seat oddly look similar to those used by Cathay Pacific

and above image is capture from video, which you may want to see at ANN news: https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=HKp2djG04YU

And the maximum speed (under operation) is still set at 320 km/h.......I expect the speed to be higher

Its feel luxury. The JR East E655 series is designed for VIP transportation,and a replacement for the retired royal train. It is also named "Nagomi", for reference.

Royal person(s) in transport

Apart from transporting royal person, the train can still be utilized as group reversed train, which is expensive to book. In other word, you can still get a chance to ride on it, if you are willing to pay a lot.

Your majesty, your trip cancel my train I used to ride.

This is the E655-1 (TR) car, which can only ride by royal person.

Interior of the train....not as luxury as I thought?

Well, to be honest, I think riding (luxury one) highway bus is better than taking the E655 series.

Hey Doraemon, can you help me to make a post?

No

Manyosen is the name for both the company operating and the line. It is a combination of Takaoka Tramway Line and Shinminatoko Line, but it is operated as a whole line. The tram connect between Takaoka and Koshinokata.

low floor design...sort of Europe style?

Europe.

An in-depth look at the Tokaido Shinkansen, the world’s first high-speed rail, and its evolution to increase speed and comfort.

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By Atsushi Kobayashi,sauce

A long name, huh?

As the name suggests, the deport service JR Central and also Tokaido Shinkansen.

Nah train deport is boring let's talk about the JR Central HC85 series

HC85 is a hybrid train that run on diesel. Well, why use diesel? Because in some line, the usage is low, meaning not bring profit. To save cost, these route usually run with diesel so maintenance cost is further decrease.

As you can see, electric overhead is not even installed.

Green (grand) car?

One door design.

Internal. Look pretty small?

Currently, it is used in limited express of some lines. While it may not be environmental friendly, it's better than canceling the service.

Above: A JR East 205-5000 series train set running between JR Nishi-funabashi & Funabashihoten Stations on the Musashino Line, at the point of the line where the track go from above ground to below ground level. The numbering on the side of the car indicated that this particular set contains some 204-5000 cars.

THE NEW FACE OF COMMUTER TRAVEL IN JAPAN

The 205 Series was introduced in 1985, just before the privatization of the national train lines. It was deployed widely throughout Japan to accommodate rapidly growing ridership and was intended to be a ubiquitous replacement for the aging 103 Series trains. The former which were also in use on many lines throughout the country. Production continued after privatization by both JR East and JR West. As a result, almost 1,500 cars were built for several different lines from one end of the country to the other. For a good long while the 205s were the most common train that Japanese commuters traveled on.

The "0" series sets, the initial order of 205 under JNR, were built for the Yamanote Line. After real-world trials, the 0 Series were tweaked and entered mass production. Those mass-production sets were added to the Yamanote, Yokohama, Saikyo, Nambu, Keihin Tohoku, Chuo, Sobu, Keiyo, Musashino, Tokaido, and Sanyo Lines. During the deployment of these train sets, JR privatized and the sets in use were shuffled around and divided between the new JR East and JR West.

A 205-0 train set leaving Yokohama Station in 2011. This set had been refurbished since its construction and featured LED signboards.

The 205 design was still being tweaked as new sets were coming off the assembly line. The sets delivered to the Yokohama Line had doors with larger windows. The second order of 205s meant for the Keiyo & Musashino Lines featured new face designs with curved windows and smaller lights that was actually inspired by Tokyo Disney Resort (Maihama Station, the gateway to the Tokyo Disney Resort is serviced by both lines) and is said by rail fans to have a "fairy-tale face."

A 205-0 set running the Commuter Rapid service on the Keiyo Line in 2008, featuring the "fairy tale face" facade. Picture from WikiMedia Commons.

ITERATION AND THE ART OF COUNTING BACKWARDS

The 205 production came to include the retroactively-named 204 Series, which were individually-built cars for the purpose of being connected to existing 205 sets to extend their length or to replace worn out 205 cars. (Refer to the title photo description.) Despite their number, the 204 Series cars featured minor improvements over like 205 cars. Some of these 204 cars were built with six doors on each side (!) to better accommodate rush hour foot traffic on the station platform at busier stations, a practice repeated by other JR train sets on other lines in the future but has since been abandoned. Today, all six-door cars on train sets that are still in service have been purposefully retired and replaced with regular four-door cars.

Apart from minor technical and visual tweaks to the original design, the 205 Series had notable changes and improvements that were denoted by several sub-series throughout the years. The 205-1000 Series sets were first built for the Hanwa Line in 1988. They featured larger conductor cab windows, wider seating, improvements to the air conditioning and power systems, and a faster top speed - 110~120km/h, up from 100km/h.

A JR West 205-1000 set laid over at Kyoto Station in 2021. Previously servicing the Hanwa Line, now operating on the Nara Line.

The 205-500 Series (the second of many non-linear numbering across the 205's sub-series) were built exclusively for the Sagami Line in 1991 and were visually very different from other 205 sets. This subseries was designed with at-grade crossings in mind and were the first, but not the only, 205 sets to be fitted with skirts (cow catchers) on the front to displace obstructions on the tracks as a security measure. The 500 subseries also had a much lower top speed of 95km/h.

In 2003, the JR East 205-1000s (not to be confused with the 205-1000s previously built by JR West) were added to Nambu Branch Line. They were refurbished Yamanote and Chuo Line cars partially rebuilt to make shorter two-car trains that could be operated by one person. These trains were the first to adopt the fourth and final conductor cab facade design of the 205 Series. A single, large window for the entire conductor cab and top-mounted headlights. The 205-3000s were added to the Hachiko and Kawagoe Lines. They featured doors that could be manually opened and closed by passengers during long stops. They too were refurbished Yamanote Line trains.

In 2004, the 205-3100s were added to the Senseki Line. They were identical to 205-3000 sets but had added resistance to extreme cold. The 205-1100s were added to the Tsurumi Line. They more closely resembled the train sets added to the Nambu Branch Line and were former Yamanote and Saikyo Line sets. The 205-1200s were added to augment the Nambu Line's existing fleet of 205s. Only the end cars were refurbished into 1200s, the middle cars were unaltered 205-0s leftover from previously constructed sets.

A 205-3100 set featuring a rainbow livery (each car is a different color) and the newest conductor cab facade running on the Senseki Line in 2021. Picture from WikiMedia Commons.

Finally, from 2013, another revision of the 205 Series was built for the Nikko and Utsunomiya Lines. The 205-600 Series fleets were formed completely from refurbished surplus stock leftover from the many years of manufacturing the 205 across multiple construction yards throughout the country. Not all 205-600s looked the same, many of them had the fairy tale face variation but some retained the original "round-eyed" face.

THE MUSASHINO DUMPING GROUND

The Musashino Line (originally a freight corridor converted for passenger trains) was the last line to receive 205 sets with new modifications, and the last revision of the 205 Series built new. Starting in 2002, the 205-5000 was added to Musashino Line, primarily consisting of refurbished Yamanote sets. These newly-formed sets were longer than most of the other lines, all of them eight-car configurations. Six of those eight cars had their own motors to handle the steep difference in grade throughout the line going from below ground trenches to high above ground, especially when connecting to the Keiyo Line for joint service.

A 205-5000 appraoching Funabashihoten Station in the snow in 2016.

As time went on, the 205s on their respective lines were being replaced with newer train models. One of the first lines to be updated was the Yamanote Line, which is why so many of its trains were used to introduce the 205 Series to smaller, more rural lines. But after the even older train sets became completely phased out in Japan, the 205 Series train sets were in turn replaced themselves. The Musashino Line was the last line in Japan to operate 205s exclusively. So it became a dumping ground of sorts for the many variants of 205 train sets collected from the many other lines that retired them. By the late 2010s, the Musashino Line maintained a rag tag fleet of the few 205s that still ran reliably, including the last remaining "fairy tale face" 205-0 train set in operation. Starting in 2018, the 205s began to be taken out of service and replaced with the Chuo Local Line's refurbished 231 Series fleet. The last 205 train sets running regular service on the Musashino Line were formally retired in late 2020.

Part of a Christmas display in Shinjuku Terrace City celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Yamanote Line's green line color (sure, why not?) outside of Shinjuku Station in 2013. The train depicted is the 205 Series.

LIFE AFTER DEATH

All of the trains that had still been running on the Musashino line were mothballed and sold to Indonesia. Previously, many of the 205 sets on the Saikyo Line had previously been transferred to Indonesia. Those trains now enjoy a second lease on life operated by KC PTI.

A former 205 Series repainted and operating in Jakarta in 2016. Photo from WikiMedia Commons.

Additionally, six of the scrapped 205 train sets from other lines were rebuilt and refurbished into the Fujikyu Railway 6000 Series for operation on that line in Yamanashi Prefecture and are still in use today.

Photos and video taken by me between 2011 and 2021, unless otherwise noted. Part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.

::: spoiler Previous posts: Stations

• Takanawa Gateway Station

Rolling Stock

• JR East E653-1000 Series "Inaho" Limited Express Liner
• JR East E5 Series "Hayabusa" Shinkansen
• Tobu 8000 Series
• JNR 183/189/381 Series Limited Express
• JR East 253-1000 Series Express Train
• Toei 6000 Series Streetcar
• JR E351 "Azusa" Express Liner
• JR East 185 Series Limited Express Liner
• Sotetsu 20000 Series
• JNR 9600 Class Steam Locomotive

Individual & Unique Trains

• Joyful Train "Resort Yamadori" (repurposed JNR 485 Series)
• Izukyu 2100 Series "The Black Ship Train (Kurofune)" Resort Liner
• JR East E491 "East iE" Track Inspector
• Tobu 100 Series "Spacia" Strawberry Edition

Random Photos

• "Race You!"
• Two Rapid Trains Meet On The Keisei Main Line
• JR Sobu Rapid Line Double Layover

Train Lines

• DisneySea Electric Railway @ Tokyo DisneySea
• Haga Utsunomiya LRT :::

Enoshima electric railway is usually misidentified as tram, but they are classified as light railway due to 鉄道事業法 (Railway Business Act?).

The Enoshima electric railway currently operate a line which is only single-track. The reason why they are misclassified as tram is commonly due to there is a street running track between Koshigoe station and Enoshima Station.

Also, they are popular due to the famous road crossing that is shown in some basketball anime.

Apart from above, the railway only consists of 15 station, which make it quite short to ride. Still, Enoshima is a quite nice place to visit.

Interestingly, Enoshima Electric Railway is also owned by Odakyu Electric Railway. Never expect Odakyu to own so many railway.

1500 type

2000 type, the latest generation

10 type, which still use timetable as signal/security system?

300 type

Operate at the start of new year, the Naritasan Kaiun is a special service by Keisei to celebrate the coming of 2025!

The train will not stop at Narita Airport, sadly.

Different train company may also have their special service to celebrate new year coming.

For example, the Hiraizumi Sendai Hatsugo by JR East bring passengers to Hiraizumi from Sendai. Hiraizumi is the place where Chuson-ji Temple is located.

And if you want to see the sunrise at Mt. Fuji, you can take the Fuji First Sunrise limited express on 1/1.

Well, name is machine translated as no official English name is found (by me).

The real name is Odakyu Hakone Railway Line, but no-one care. (sad) The Hakone Tozan Railway has a railtrack wiith slope of 80‰, making it the steepest slope in Japan.

It is also noted that Three-track track is used at Iriuda station to allow mainline train that using narrow gauge to reach Hakone-Yumoto and mountain train using standard gauge to reach Iriuda Depot, smilar to Yamagata Shinkansen

water storage system is used to prevent damage to railroad during tough curve. However, I can not confirm if such system is used for newer model.

2000 series

1000 series

MoHa 1 type

MoHa 2 type

The Moha 1 or 2 type can be classified as 100 series.

and what is the railway famous for? Its the fall foliage alone the railway during fall session.

that's the cute train that is commonly seen on social media page.

The Wakayama Electric Railway operate the Kishigawa line, which was used to be a part of the Nankai Railway (and used to be an individual company, history is complex).

Above is the Tama train, and Tama is the famous station master.

This station master is born in 1999 and had been working non-stop for 9 years since 2006. It help to save the Wakayama Electric Railway from death by attracting passenger (magic). So, in 2009, Tama train is introduced to honor its work.

In 2015, this station master become goddess and waiting for your visit at Shinto shrine next to Kishi Station.

Apart form Tama train, 2270 series has different livery:

strawberry train, and strawberry seed can only be purchased in Egg Festival on 13 Spring

Umeboshi Train,To celebrate the Nankoume plums

Tama Train Museum, a part of the Kishikaisei Project

Chuggington Train, that's.....

no cat ear?

and according to their official website, tama train is not going to run during chrismas holiday. Check their official website to know which train is going to run on particular day. Twitter maybe useful, if you don't mind.

federation link seem broken again.

thats a long name... and it is not that new. The Metropolitan New Urban Railway has been operated the Tsukuba Express (line) since 2005. Thing that is (sort of) new is the TX-3000 series, which is operated since 2020.

why the whole line is called express? the main reason is rapid (express?) train is operated frequently on the route (2 per hours) , and the whole track is designed for high speed operation of a 130 km/h. Also, by putting the track on bridge and underground to avoid road crossing. With ATO (automatic train operation) system, the line allows high frequency train service. Also, the gap between each station is pretty far, so you can imagine that train can be operated without stopping for a while

As a side note, between Moriya and Miraidaira there is a neutral zone to allow transmission of AC and DC zone, which is (very) rare for a private railway. DC is used between Akihabara and Moriya because of law requiring commuter railroad in Tokyo to use DC. On the other hand, AC is used between Miraidaira and Tskuba is to avoid intervention with Meteorological Agency Magnetic Observatory.

TX-2000 series

speaking of which, they are operated under one man per driver mode,which save cost and commonly used metro. i heard that JR east is consider such practise for some route.