Japan Transportation Guide
The exterior of a new station building on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line is to be revealed later this month when the outer construction is completed and its scaffolding comes down. The new station is located between Fukui and Tsuruga and will be called Echizen-Takefu Station. It is due to open in the spring of 2024 along with the opening of the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
A design image of Echizen-Takefu Station’s exterior
JR Kyushu have revealed their latest design plans for the new “Kamome” shinkansen which will use state-of-the-art N700S series trains. The N700S series was first introduced by JR Central and JR West on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines in 2020.
JR Kyushu’s Kamome Shinkansen N700S series train
Sotetsu Hotels have opened a “Railway Concept Room” in a hotel in Kyoto which is decorated with parts taken from an old Sotetsu #7000 series train. This train ran on the Sagami Railway (also called Sotetsu) in Kanagawa Prefecture from 1975 until 2019. The idea behind the room is to raise awareness of the Sagami Railway in regions outside Kanagawa. The room was opened in Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyoto Shijo-Karasuma in early July and is now taking bookings.
First introduced in 1975, the #7000 series (left) has now been replaced by the 20000 series (right)
Sad news for railfans – JR East will retire the last double-decker high-speed bullet train this autumn. First introduced in 1997, the E4 series was the second double-decker series of shinkansen trains after the E1 series which was introduced in 1994 and retired in 2012. Both series were marketed under the name “Max” or “Multi-Amenity Express” and were built to transport more passengers on busy commuter routes between Tokyo and the cities of northern Japan. Formerly running on the Tohoku, Nagano, and Joetsu Shinkansen lines, the E4 now runs only on the Joetsu Shinkansen which runs between Tokyo and Niigata.
The E4 series Max
Asa Seaside Railway in Tokushima Prefecture will introduce a dual-mode vehicle (DMV) this summer which can run along both railway tracks and roads. The new DMV runs on normal rubber tires when on roads, but at interchange stops the rubber tires are lifted and special rail-track wheels descend. Although JR Hokkaido have previously tested a similar DMV, the new DMV in Tokushima will be the first of its kind to run regular commercial operations.
Asa Seaside Railway’s Dual-Mode Vehicle in railway mode
Nankai Electric Railway’s Koyasan Cable Line has become the first cable car line in Japan to completely decarbonize and now operates with 100% renewable energy.
A cable car on the Koyasan Cable Line
The Fuji Kyuko company which operates the Fujikyuko Railway in Yamanashi Prefecture has announced that it is splitting its railway division off into a separate company this month. To mark the railway’s newfound independence, the railway will also be renamed Fuji Electric Railway (富士山麓電気鉄道- Fuji Sanroku Denki Tetsudo) a historic name it last held 61 years ago.
The Fujisan View Express on the Fujikyuko Line
Yaesu Bus Terminal, which is now under construction on the east side of Tokyo Station, is to become the biggest bus station in Japan.
An artist’s impression of the entrance to Yaesu Bus Terminal which is to be built by Tokyo Station
A new upscale hotel in Kyoto has added a train-themed “Railway Room” which is sure to delight railway enthusiasts. The Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji, which opened on March 12th this year, overlooks Umekoji Park and is just a 4-minute walk from Kyoto Railway Museum, Japan’s biggest railway museum.
The Railway Room at Royal Park Hotel Kyoto Umekoji
Odakyu Electric Railway will open their new Romancecar Museum on Monday, April 19th. The new museum will display several vehicles from Odakyu’s luxury limited express “Romancecar” series and is located beside Ebina Station in Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture. This is Odakyu’s first permanent indoor exhibition site and is designed to be a family-friendly facility which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
The new museum’s Romancecar Gallery
