Japanese Trains

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

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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.

Uploaded to YouTube by NHK WORLD JAPAN.

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.

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.

Above: A then brand new JR East E353 series train set (S108) parked alongside the very first JR East E257 series train set (M101), both heading southbound on the Chuo Main Line @ Shinjuku Station in 2018.

I wonder who would win? They both have a top speed of 130kph.

Picture taken by me in 2018. Part of my Random Photo series of posts.

the sad thing is, it is not used anymore. But it is operated during 2015-2018 by the JR West.

at least it is preserved in the Kyoto Railroad Museum.

there is also a ... something related with EVA in it.

And they also have special version announcement for this train.

Youtube Link

JR pass is quite expensive .......

and they need to reserve space for luggage in Sinkansen, making it harder to plan route.

Above: An E653-1000 "Inaho" train set stopped at Niigata Station in 2021. The livery and plaque is meant to represent the sun setting over fields of rice against a view of the Sea of Japan.

The E653 was first built in 1997 for the new "Fresh Hitachi" limited express service on the Joban Line. Between 2011 and 2015, all E653 train sets were retired and replaced with E657s. The retired E653s were refurbished and repurposed for the Inaho limited express service on the Uetsu Main Line in 2013 and the Shirayuki limited express service on the Shin'etsu Line in 2015.

The Inaho fleet is eight E653-1000s. The original E653s were upgraded with wider seating, Green Cars (first class seating), and new liveries that depict the area of Japan they operate in. Starting in 2017, individual train sets were repainted with custom liveries, including a pair of trains repainted in 2023. One to resemble the original Fresh Hitachi service and another to resemble the old JNR 485 series that the E653-1000s replaced. Additionally, E653-1100 sets (also made from retired E653s) were added to the service in 2022.

Picture taken by me in 2021, part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.

no one talk about the cargo?

JNR (Japan National Railway) Class EF64 is a freight (sometime passenger) locomotive that have been serviced since 1964.

Typical freight train

sleeper express used by JR East

is this the budget version of sunrise izumo?

use on resuce/towing service

well thats EF65

And they would let a worker standing at the front when entering/exiting the deport.

Above: An E5 Shinkansen with it's trademark aquamarine livery on the Yamabiko service at Ueno Station in 2022.

The E5 Shinkansen began life on the Tohoku & Hokkaido Shinkansen lines. It was the first new single-decker Shinkansen series since the E3s entered service in 1997. The Hokkaido Shinkansen uses an altered, nearly-identical model called the H5. H5s are designed specifically for cold weather operation and were originally incompatible with E5 sets. As of 2016, both versions can interoperate. The E5 train sets run four different services (Hayabusa, Hayate, Yamabiko, & Nasuno) in east & northern Japan, but the model, in general, is nicknamed Hayabusa (The Japanese word for the peregrine falcon) after the original service between Tokyo Station and Shin-Aomori Station.

The digital display on the outside of the train denoting the service and number. This E5 is on the Yamabiko service, bound for Tokyo Station.

The livery of the E5 series is called "Tokiwa" green & "Hiun" white. The E5 sets have a "Hayate" pink stripe separating the green and white, while the H5 sets have a "Saika" purple stripe. Each E5 & H5 train set has an abstract logo on the side of the body designed to resemble a flower. These designs and colors are meant to evoke an image of the colorful fields of flowers found in northern Japan.

The E5 Shinkansen are often seen coupled to the E6 "Komachi" Shinkansen (red) while running between Kanto and Tohoku. An E5 & E6 set at Sendai Station in 2023.

The E5 Shinkansen won the 2012 Blue Ribbon Award, an award issued by Japan Railfan Club to train models released the previous year that are considered to be the most outstanding. It was the fourth Shinkansen model to win the award.

A mockup conductor cab car of the E5 series at the National Railway Museum in Omiya in 2024.

All pictures taken by me in 2022, 2023, & 2024. Part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.

The Oarai Anko Matsuri (Oarai Anglerfish Festival) livery, which celebrate the anglerfish at Oarai, Ibaraki.

what does it taste?

Operation 30 year livery

well, somehow the Oarai is linked with Girl and Panzers, but I don't want to dig the history of it

anyway, The Oarai Anko Matsuri is happening on 16/11~17/11, you may want to give it a visit if you have time.

and they even have freight service despite being a pretty small private railway company

Above: The two-car "experimental yellow & orange" 8000 Series set at Hikifune Station on the Tobu Kameido Line in 2019. All 8000 Series sets operating on the Kameido Line feature the updated facades and LED lights & signboards.

The 8000 Series was introduced by Tobu Railway for service on their lines in 1963. Between 1963 and 1983, Tobu built 712 sets. Despite being a smaller train operator, this is the largest number of any single model of train ever put into operation in Japan by a private company. The 8000 Series saw service on many different lines in the northern Kanto region. From the 2000s, many 8000 Series train sets began to get replaced by never models. In 2024, over 100 sets are still in operation, and six sets have already been preserved.

At its height, the 8000 Series was either the exclusive or the primary model on 10 different lines. All ten lines continue to operate some of the remaining 8000 Series sets, with some lines operating 800 & 850 Series sets which are modified 8000 Series sets.

The green & "jasmine white" set at Hikifune Station on the Kameido Line in 2019. This livery pays homage to a 7860 Series train set given the same livery as an experiment in the 1950s.The katakana on the left signboard (ワンマン) says "wanman" or One-Man, indicating that the train is operated by a single conductor. Almost all 8000 Series train sets were eventually modified to allow for a single person to drive the train.

Starting in 2012, Tobu began painting random 8000 Series sets with custom liveries as a way to reinvigorate interest in the trains.

One set in particular, 8111, is a fully-preserved 8000 Series set kept in running order by the Tobu Museum. It features no modifications from the original design apart from safety improvements and some LED signal lights. It was repainted multiple times over the course of 15 years before being returned to regular service on the Urban Park (Noda) Line in 2023.

Set 8111, featuring the original "royal beige" & "international orange" livery, going out of service at Kasukabe Station on the Urban Park Line before preparing to "turn around" and return to Omiya Station in 2024.

All pictures taken by me in 2019 & 2024. Part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.

Previous Rolling Stock posts:

• Joyful Train "Resort Yamadori" (repurposed JNR 485 Series)
• JNR 183/189/381 Series Limited Express
• JR East 253-1000 Series Express Train
• Izukyu 2100 Series "The Black Ship Train (Kurofune)" Resort Liner
• Toei 6000 Series Streetcar
• JR East E491 "East iE" Track Inspector
• JR E351 "Azusa" Express Liner
• JR East 185 Series Limited Express Liner
• Sotetsu 20000 Series
• JNR 9600 Class Steam Locomotive
• Tobu 100 Series "Spacia" Strawberry Edition

Above: Resort Yamadori sitting out of service at JR Nishi-Funabashi Station in 2016.

Resort Yamadori was a touring liner that operated out of Takasaki and served the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. It was built from a salvaged 485 Series limited express train set. It operated from 2011 to 2022, making it the last 485 Series hardware in operation in Japan.

Resort Yamadori also doubled as a rapid train on the Resort Kusatsu service until 2018.

The interior design of Resort Yamadori was meant for relaxation and healing. There was an observation deck, a kids room, a meeting room, and the floors were fitted with tatami mats. Parts of the train were also a restoration of the regular seating on the original train.

The Resort Yamadori logo on the side of the train.

Resort Yamadori was scrapped and dismantled very shortly after being retired from service.

Pictures taken by me in 2016. Part of my Rolling Stock series of posts.

Previous Rolling Stock posts:

• JNR 183/189/381 Series Limited Express
• JR East 253-1000 Series Express Train
• Izukyu 2100 Series "The Black Ship Train (Kurofune)" Resort Liner
• Toei 6000 Series Streetcar
• JR East E491 "East iE" Track Inspector
• JR E351 "Azusa" Express Liner
• JR East 185 Series Limited Express Liner
• Sotetsu 20000 Series
• JNR 9600 Class Steam Locomotive
• Tobu 100 Series "Spacia" Strawberry Edition

Operate at winter, the Ki-104 is used for snow removal as pushed by the ED 333 eletric locomotive.

Orgin is the Ki 100 series from the state owned period, it has been servicing for 95 years.

Don't enter the railroad

Is that the attraction of Hokkaido ?

Speaking of snow, you know something is defrosting as I write.

by 丹波篠山さん ,sauce

Hankyu 4050 series is a resuce locomotion introduced at 1982. The body of it is scrapped from the 920 series. about 7 days ago, the 4051 is scrapped, marking the end of 4050 series. still, it is pretty amazing for it to serve for such a long time.

????