Tokyo Station Building under Renovation

Southernmost part of Tokyo Station Building under renovation

Tokyo Station is the largest railway terminal in Japan, and was opened in 1914 as a central station of the capital city. The 20 surface and elevated tracks are used by the conventional JR and shinkansen (bullet train) lines. Meanwhile, 10 underground tracks are allocated for the conventional JR and the Tokyo Metro subway lines.

The Main Building (Marunouchi Entrance Building) is located in the western part of the station. It is red brick masonry, and appointed as an important national and cultural property.

This building, which was completed in 1914, is now under renovation which started in 2007, and will be completed mid to late this year. In addition to the railway operation facilities, a gallery, hotel and underground car parking are being constructed inside. It is said that the total construction cost is 50 billion yen (625 million US dollars).

Recently, a part of the protection cover of the building was unveiled; and a beautiful facade emerged (see the top photo). It is still a small part of the building; but it has a strong presence in the station and its surrounding area.

Furthermore, the construction and development of Tokyo Station area will continue until 2014. Currently, construction of the Yaesu Entrance side (eastern side) is also proceeding at a good rate.

My office is located on the 20th floor of a building on the Yaesu Entrance side so I can see the progress of the construction clearly from the window (see the bottom photo).

Tokyo Station is evolving toward the centenary.

Veiw of Tokyo Station including Main Building (center, red brickwork) under renovation

Classic EL and Fukujuso along the Railway Track

Electric locomotive (EL) Chichibu DeKi 501 with limestone freight train leaves Nagatoro Station

After visiting Mt. Hodo in Chichibu District (see my blog on February 18th), I went back to Nagatoro Station to catch the train home. On my way to the station on foot, I found a classic electric locomotive (EL) on the track of Chichibu Railway.

It was number 501 of Type DeKi 500. It was manufactured in 1973 by Hitachi Ltd. The main task of this EL is pulling freight trains. Its features are rather classic; however, the bluish body with a white stripe still has a youthful beauty. Specifically, I love its nostalgic design. Look at the top photo. You can see a deck and steps on the front of the locomotive. In the past, almost all Japanese ELs had decks like this. But, this design was faded out from an engineering viewpoint. Currently, we cannot see this type of EL on major railways, such as on the JR lines. So, Type DeKi 500s are highly valued for their historical significance.

In the meantime, I found lovely yellow flowers beside the railway track (see the bottom photo). They were "Fukujuso (Far East Amur adonis)", which are well known among Japanese people as a typical spring ephemeral. We can see these flowers in winter and/or early spring. It is said that Fukujuso brings us happiness and luck in Japan. It's probably because Fukujuso comes into bloom in the New Year holiday season.

I enjoyed the classic EL and beautiful flowers together. This is what is attractive in the Chichibu District.

FYI, I have linked to Panagos89's website, which introduces Greek railways. Please enjoy unique movies, shot by an enthusiastic railfan in Greece.

Fukujuso flowers along the railway track near Nagatoro Station, Chichibu Railway

N700 Series, the Biggest Force of Shinkansen Fleet

EMU JR Central N700 series arrives at Atami Station, the Tokaido Shinkansen

Replacing the 300 series (see my blog on February 19th), the EMU Shinkansen N700 series has recently become the biggest force on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.

The N700 series launched in 2005, is the latest model on the Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen. It is composed of 16 cars; and its maximum speed is 300km per hour on the Sanyo section, and 270km per hour on the Tokaido section. In addition to its speed, the other outstanding feature is its curve passage performance. By tilting the train's body using advanced technology, the N700 series achieved an operation speed of 270km per hour on a 2500m curve.

In the early stages of introducing the N700 series, they were used for Nozomi (Desire), the fastest trains stopping only at major stations, such as Nagoya and Kyoto. But, currently, the N700 series is used for all types of Shinkansen.

Look at the top photo. It is at Atami Station, located 100km west of Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Previously, all of the N700 series trains, Nozomi and Hikari (Light), passed through this local station; however, recently, some of the N700 series, such as Kodama (Echo), have started to stop there.

The 300 series will retire soon, meanwhile the N700 series will emerge onto center stage. We cannot resist the tide of railway history.

N700 series, Super Express Kodama at Atami Station, the Tokaido Shinkansen

New Landmark on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

EMU Tokyo Metro 10000 series at Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho Line

Following the completion of Tokyo Sky Tree (see my blog on July 29th, 2011); a new landmark was opened in Tokyo, the Tokyo Gate Bridge (see the bottom photo).

Tokyo Gate Bridge is a 2.9km long road bridge across Tokyo Bay. Unlike Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway (a 14km long tunnel-bridge combination) and Rainbow Bridge (a 798m suspension bridge), it is not an express road, but a toll free local street. Due to two kinds of restrictions, the designing of the bridge was very difficult. One of them is the Aviation Law. The bridge location is close to Tokyo International Airport; therefore, it is prohibited to construct a tall suspension bridge. Another restriction is to secure vertical clearance for large vessels to enter Port of Tokyo. Consequently, a truss-type design was adopted. The shape of the bridge became to be similar in appearance with a dinosaur. So, Tokyoites call this bridge "Dinosaur Bridge".

To visit this new landmark, it is convenient to get off at Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (see the top photo). Pedestrians can climb up the bridge easily, as there is a free elevator next to the bridge girder. I visited there last Saturday. It was very cold and windy at the 61m high bridge; however, a superb view there was, enough to quickly wash away all of my everyday stresses. I could see Tokyo's other new landmark, Tokyo Sky Tree, clearly from there.

I would like to visit Tokyo Gate Bridge again in summer to enjoy night view of the downtown and cool night breeze.

Tokyo Gate Bridge near Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line

Countdown to the Last Run, Shinkansen 300 Series

EMU Shinkansen 300 series and railfans at Tokyo Station, the Tokaido Shinkansen

It was Friday evening, 8.40pm at Tokyo Station. Despite the cold and occasional flurries, a number of rail fans were waiting for a train, which would arrive at platform number 16. That was the EMU Shinkansen JR West 300 series originally from Okayama Station. Why is it so popular among rail fans? It's because the EMU 300 series will retire soon. Recently, JR Central and West made a press release that the last run is planned on March 16th on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.

The EMU 300 series launched in 1990 to decrease the travel time between Tokyo and Osaka, Japan's two major cities, competing with airliners. For that purpose, the maximum speed was raised up from 220 to 270km per hour. The new super express train, "Nozomi (Desire)" commenced and was operated using the 300 series. Since then, the EMU 300 series have been running east and west on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen. But, in recent years, they didn't have many lines, as the new EMU 700 and N700 series have replaced them. Consequently, March 16th will be their last run.

The retirement date is still one month away; however, many rail fans are visiting stations to take pictures and/or ride the 300 series to remember it. They are adults, children, boys, girls, mothers and families. Sayonara (good bye) and arigato (thank you) to the 300 series. We will never forget you through the years.

A young female railfan shoots 300 series at Tokyo Station, the Tokaido Shinkansen

More information about the last run, EMU Shinkansen 300 series (in Japanese):

http://300.jr-central.co.jp/index.html