Odakyu Series 30000 EMU "Romancecar EXE"
On March 23, Odakyu celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Romancecar EXE. Today, I would like to share this milestone with you.
First, let me briefly look back at the Romancecar EXE.
The Romancecar EXE (officially the Series 30000 EMU) is a limited express train operated by Odakyu Electric Railway. It entered service in 1996.
To be honest, I was disappointed when the EXE made its debut because it abandoned many of the traditional features that had made the Romancecar so special. For example, the driver's cab was no longer located on the upper level, meaning passengers could no longer enjoy a panoramic front view through the large observation window. Earlier Romancecar models featured articulated bogies, which helped reduce weight and improve ride stability, whereas the EXE adopted conventional bogies instead. I still remember muttering to myself, "The Romancecar isn't special anymore."
In fact, the EXE was not particularly popular among tourists or railway enthusiasts. After its introduction, the number of passengers using the Romancecar to visit Hakone declined significantly. This downturn continued until the new Romancecar VSE (Series 50000 EMU) entered service in 2005. While many previous Romancecar models had won the Blue Ribbon Prize, the EXE did not receive the award. As many of you may know, the Blue Ribbon Prize is presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club to the most outstanding new railway vehicle introduced in the previous year.
But was the EXE really all that bad?
As the saying goes, one person's junk is another person's treasure. One advantage was that reserving seats became much easier thanks to its increased passenger capacity. Another practical feature was its flexible train formation: a ten-car set could be divided into six-car and four-car sections to better match operational needs.
And then I discovered one more thing to appreciate—its reclining seats. They are just the right firmness for me, making them exceptionally comfortable on longer journeys.
To mark the 30th anniversary, a commemorative sticker has been placed on the front of the EXE (see the photo below). The sticker features two different cab designs: one with the standard cab front and the other with the gangway-equipped cab, highlighting the EXE's operational flexibility.
Happy 30th anniversary, Romancecar EXE!
I'm on your side now.
The commemorative sticker celebrating the 30th anniversary