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| EMU Odakyu 20000 series, Romance Car RSE (June, 2011) |
I recently rediscovered photographs of the retired Odakyu Romance Car, RSE on my hard disk.
RSE is an abbreviation of Resort Super Express. The formal name is the EMU Odakyu 20000 series. RSE was launched in 1991, when Odakyu started a direct operation between Shinjuku on the Odakyu line and Numazu on the JR Central Gotemba line. 2 sets, 14 cars, of RSE were built by Nippon Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
The greatest feature of RSE was double decker Green Cars (first class cars) at the center of the 7-car train. Car number 3 and 4 correspond to the double deckers. Each seat on Green Cars had a liquid crystal television. Car number 4 had semi-compartment seats as well. RSE was elected as the 1992 Blue Ribbon Prize train. As you know, this prize is an annual award presented by the Japan Railfan Club, awarded to the best train that was launched in the previous year.
RSE was gorgeous; however, it had been suffering from a decrease in passengers due to recession. Odakyu decided the displacement plan of RSE. Consequently, RSE was retired from the track in 2012. I was sorry to hear that, but the God of trains was with us. In 2013, Fujikyu, a local railway company in Yamanashi Prefecture, purchased one set of RSE, and launched it under the name of Fujsan Express. Unfortunately, Fujisan Express is composed of only three cars without double deckers, but it still has a remnant of its former beauty in the Odakyu-era.
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| Romance Car RSE, stands at Hakone-Yumoto station (July, 2011) |