Monday 4 March 2019

EMU Kintetsu 12200 Series: New Snack Car

EMU Kintetsu 12200 series, New Snack Car, heads up to Nagoya

Subsequent to my last post, I am going to continue to show you the Kintetsu train today.

Sitting on the stool bar in the observation room of the Ise-Shima Liner, I could take many photos of Kintetsu trains frequently coming from the traveling direction. My favorite one was the EMU 12200 series named "New Snack Car".


The 12200 series was launched in 1969 as a mass-produced version of the EMU 12000 series, "Snack Car". A total of 168 units were built by Kinki Sharyo. It is commissioned as limited express trains on the 1,435 mm-gauge tracks. The technical specification is rather old, for instance, it has a rheostatic electric control system with DC motors. Many of the units had already been scrapped or modified to the other models, but 74 units are still operated on the lines. Why is it called New Snack Car? It is because the 12200 series once had a kitchen room and offered snacks to passengers same as the 12000 series (Snack Car). Regrettably, the kitchen room was removed later due to a decline in users, but rail fans still call the 12200 series New Snack Car.


I like New Snack Car as it is a real Kintetsu limited express train. The body is orange colored with a dark blue stripe. It is a traditional Kintetsu color design and definitely my favorite.


On January 11th, 2018, Kintetsu issued a press release announcing that the new limited express model will debut in the spring of the year 2020. It means that the 12200 series will disappear soon. Nobody can stop time.

EMU Kintetsu 12200 series, New Snack Car, heads down to Kashikojima

Official information about the EMU 12200 series, New Snack Car (in Japanese):