EMU Izukyu 2100 Series, Scenic Train in Izu Peninsula

EMU Izukyu 2100 series, "Resort 21", stands at Izu-Taga Station on the JR East Ito Line

Along with Mt. Fuji and the Hakone mountains, Izu Peninsula is one of major resort areas in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Being located in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Izu is famous for the joys of its ocean and mountains with hot springs.

To get to this resort area, Izukyu Railway is convenient. Connecting Ito and Izukyu-Shimoda, the total operating length is 45.7 kilometers. The entire route is an electrified single track. The trains on the Izukyu Line are directly operated into the JR East Ito Line to Atami and Tokyo. Ito is the gateway to the Izu Peninsula; while Shimoda is famous for being the place which opened Japan. Accepting US Commodore Perry's request, the Tokugawa Shogunate signed a treaty opening Shimoda and Hakodate ports to U.S. trade in 1854.

One of the features of trains on Izukyu Railway is its passenger services. Specifically, EMU 2100 series, "Resort 21" is quite unique. To enjoy gorgeous mountain and ocean views, sloping tiers of seats are equipped in the front of the train. The passengers can enjoy a front view through the cockpit. It is an irresistible attraction for rail fans as well as sightseers.

A total of 5 sets, 40 units of the 2100 series have been manufactured since 1985. Currently, 3 sets of the trains are still being operated on this beautiful route. EMU Izukyu 2100 series, Resort 21... it is the major attraction for visitors to Izu Peninsula.

In the meantime, I have linked to the website, Oekraine Anders run by an active rail fan of the Netherlands. Please enjoy informative Ukrainian railway topics.

Front view through the cockpit window of the EMU Izukyu 2100 series, "Resort 21"

More information about the EMU Izukyu 2100 series, "Resort 21":

http://www.izukyu.jp/foreign_language/en/02.html

New Shimokitazawa Station, Clean but Deep

EMU Odakyu 3000 series arrives at new underground Shimokitazawa Station

Following Keio Chofu (see my blog on October 17th, 2012), Keikyu Kamata (see my blog on November 15th, 2012) and Tokyu Shibuya (see my blog on March 20th, 2013), another railway construction has been completed in Tokyo.

Odakyu has been setting up a new Shimokitazawa Station underground together with double-double tracks (see my blog on March 23rd, 2013). After 9 years of challenging work, the first half of the underground double track was completed on March 23rd in 2013. All the trains have been moved to run on the new tracks. The two neighboring stations, namely Higashikitazawa and Setagaya-Daita have also been moved underground.

It seems to have been a very challenging construction, because a bi-level tunnel needed to be drilled just under the present surface tracks. Currently, half of the double track has been completed. The new Shimokitazawa Station is three stories below ground. The concourse is on the 1st floor of the basement. The 3rd floor of the basement is a platform for the double track, which has been just completed. Meanwhile, the 2nd floor is still under construction for another double track.

Although the new underground Shimokitazawa Station is clean and bright, it is a bit deep. It takes 5 minutes to transfer to the Keio-Inokashira Line; while it took only one minute when the old ground level station was used. The escalator between the concourse and the platform is also very crowded. There is a long line during rush hours.

It is hard to satisfy all requirements.

Platform of the new underground Shimokitazawa Station

Pasmo and Suica, Expanding Valid Areas

Poster to announce the expansion of Pasmo and Suica service area

As I mentioned in my blog on January 29th, 2012, Pasmo and Suica are prepaid IC transit cards for railway and bus passengers in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The function of Pasmo and Suica are the same. The only difference is the issuer. Pasmo is issued by private railway and bus companies, whilst JR East issues Suica.

Pasmo and Suica are interoperable. You just need to make a binary choice, but, up until recently, these IC cards have only been interchangeable within the Tokyo metropolita area. In other words, passengers, who visit the outside of Tokyo, have had to obtain the other local IC cards to travel around each area.

On March 23rd, 2013, the situation drastically changed. The ten IC cards of Japan's eleven major transit authorities have become interchangeable. These ten cards include Suica and Pasmo in Tokyo, Kitaca in Hokkaido, Pitaca and Icoca in Osaka and so on. I have seen posters to announce the expansion of the Pasmo and Suica service area at Chitose-Funabashi, my nearest station (see the top photo). I have also found a new IC card charging machine at Shimokitazawa Station on the Keio-Inokashira Line recently (see the following photo).

Once you get an IC card and deposit some money, you can take almost all railway and bus routes in Japan now. It is convenient for shopping as well, because these cards can also be used as electronic money. I couldn't be happier as a Pasmo holder to hear the news.

 

New IC card chargng machine at Shimokitazawa Station on the Keio-Inokashira Line

 

National interoperable mass transit IC card system guide:

http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/pdf/Pasmo_ZenkokuOK_E.pdf

2013 Sakura Season in Tokyo, Part 3

1725F of the EMU Keio 1000 series leaves Nishi-Eifuku Station on the Inokashira Line

Before closing the 2013 Sakura (cherry blossom) season in Tokyo, I am going to introduce the Sakura blossoms in a suburban residential area. As I mentioned in my blog on April 8th, 2011, I was born in a western suburb of Tokyo, along the Keio-Inokashira Line. Although it has become a typical residential area currently, I could see some crofts and empty lots around my house when I was a kid.

The Kanda River ran through the residential area near my house. It was a small stream, which came from Inokashira Park. I often played crawfishing and threw stones on the river bank. Although it was a fun-packed river for kids, flooding during the typhoon season often caused serious problems. In the 1980's, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government conducted improvements to the river to prevent flooding. As a result, the scenery of the river has drastically changed. The native landscaping has disappeared, while the risk of flooding has reduced. The other highlight was the planting of Sakura trees on the river bank.

Today, the Sakura trees on the Kanda River have grown, and entertain many visitors in the blooming seasons. I also enjoy walking along the river and viewing Sakura every year (see the following photo).

In the meantime, The Keio-Inokashira Line is famous for its "rainbow colored" train bodies. The top photo shows one of the seven colors, namely "light green" of the EMU 1000 series (see the top photo). The trains are also fun-packed on the Keio-Inokashira Line.

Full-blown Sakura trees along Kanda River near Nishi-Eifuku Station on the Keio-Inokashira Line

Train Cleaning Crew, Miracle 7 Minutes

Lining up on the platform in Tokyo Sta., the train cleaning crew members wait for an arriving train.

If you get on a Shinkansen train at Tokyo Station, you should look for a group of men and women in matching uniforms. Lining up on the platform, they wait for an arriving train (see the top photo). When the train arrives, they bow politely to the train passengers (see the following photo). Then, after the opening of the train doors, they bow again to the disembarking passengers.

Who are they? They are the train cleaning crew at Tokyo Station. Their mission is to clean the cabin of the Shinakansen train, while it stands at Tokyo Station. They have only 7 minutes to complete their job, otherwise the train will be delayed.

Their work has been praised by many people. For example, a major foreign news service has reported on the cleaning crew. The crew has gotten a lot of TV coverage as well. They are now stars. A popular book about them has also been published.

Indeed, they seem to be very quick. They are more like cleaning engineers than cleaners. According to the aforementioned book, one female crew member said, "I swallowed my pride when I became a cleaner; but, then I regained my pride after I put my back into the train cleaning." They are thoughtful words of inspiration.

As I write, the professional train cleaning crew is on the stage of Platforms 20 to 23 in Tokyo Station.

 

The train cleaning crew members bow politely to the passengers of the arriving train.