New Fuji-san Express on the Fujikyu Line

EMU Fujikyu 8000 series, "New Fuji-san Express" stands at Ootsuki Station

 

Fujikyu is going at high speed in the railway business. Following the introduction of a new commuter train (EMU 6000 series), the company launched a new Fuji-san express train, the EMU 8000 series, to replace an old model (EMU 2000 series).

Fujikyu is a local railway company in Yamanashi Prefecture. Connecting Ootsuki and Kawaguchi-ko, there are 16 stations over a total operating length of 23.6 km. The track is single (1,067 mm gauge) and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. Several trains are directly operated onto the JR East Chuo Line through Ootsuki Terminal.

This railway company has been known as the railway to the foot of Japan's highest mountain, Mt. Fuji (3,776 m above the sea level). Mt. Fuji was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. This big news has brought a large benefit to Fujikyu, as many holidaymakers including foreign sightseers are flocking to Mt. Fuji. It is a rare opportunity for Fujikyu to expand its business.

The EMU Fujikyu 8000 series is the ex-Odakyu Romance Car, RSE, which was originally launched in 1991. The most peculiar point was that it had double decker Green Cars (first class) at the center of the 7-car train. Unfortunately, the 8000 series was composed of only three cars without the double deckers, but it still has a remnant of its former beauty in the Odakyu-era.

I wish the 8000 series well for its new life on the Fujikyu Line.
 

Side view of the Fujikyu 8000 series

EMU 10000 Series: New Model on the Haneda Airport Line

EMU Tokyo Monorail 10000 series travels on the Haneda Airport Line

 

As I mentioned before, Tokyo Monorail Company will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Haneda Airport Line on September 17th of this year. Following the launching of a special meorial colored train, the company has recently launched a new model, the EMU 10000 series in commemoration of the anniversary.

The Haneda Airport Line was opened between Hamamatsu-cho on the JNR (present JR East) Yamanote Line and Haneda Airport on September 17th in 1964 as an airport access route from downtown Tokyo to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda). There were only 2 terminal stations at first; however, it expanded the number of en route stations later to take the role of not only airport access but also a commuter train. Currently, there are 11 stations over a total operating length of 17.8 km. The track is double and the electric system is 750 V DC. The maximum operating speed is 80 km/hour. The Haneda Airport Line is the oldest straddle-beam system monorail route in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The EMU 10000 series consists of 6 cars. It covers 4 motor cars and 2 trailers (4M2T). The body is made of aluminum and the bogies are bolsterless. The IGBT-VVVF (variable-frequency drive) control system is applied. A green colored stripe above the windows is a good accent of the 10000 series. Train announcements are made in four languages, namely, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. In-car LED displays are also broadcast in four languages.

Congratulations for over half a century of the Haneda Aiport Line!
 

EMU 10000 series arrives at International Terminal Station of Haneda Airport

 

Tokyo Monorail Official Information (in Japanese):

https://www.youtube.com/user/tokyomonorail

Live camera image of the Haneda Airport Line:

http://114.160.215.99/viewer/live/ja/live.html

More information about the 50th anniversary and the EMU 10000 series (in Japanese):

http://www.tokyo-monorail.co.jp/news/campaign/50th_anniversary/

The Last of Classic Romance Cars

EMU Odakyu Romance Car, LSE 7000 series, travels on the Odawara Line

 

In the Tokyo metropolitan area, several private railway companies operate gorgeous express trains as their flagships. One of the venerable trains is the Romance Car on the Odakyu line. Its operating route extends from Shinjuku, a subcenter of Tokyo, to Hakone, a reputable mountain resort in a western suburb.

The EMU 7000 series, "LSE" is the oldest Romance Car at work. It was launched in 1980 to replace the old models. A total of 4 sets, 44 units, have been manufactured by Nippon Sharyo and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Currently, two sets are still being operated on the Odawara Line. Recent topics of the LSE are its body color change. Odakyu returned the body color of LSE to its original, namely orange vermilion, gray and white in 2012. As a result, the white and wine-red colored LSE cars have disappeared from the tracks. The original coloring design is a tradition of the Romance Car. For instance, the first and second generation Romance Cars also had the same coloring design. You can still see this design on the preserved car, the EMU 3100 series, in Kaisei Town, Kanagawa Prefecture.

In January, 2010, the 7000 series faced difficulty surviving. A malfunction occurred on its articulated bogies. Many rail fans were anxious about the future of the 7000 series, but it came back onto the track in April 2010, after careful inspection.

The EMU 7000 series, LSE... it is a phoenix-like classic Romance Car on the Odakyu Line.
 

EMU Odakyu Romance Car, LSE 7000 series, stands at Shinjuku Terminal

Tokyu 7601F: The Last of the Kabuki Face 7600 Series

Set number 7601 of the EMU Tokyu 7600 series leaves Senzokuike Station on the Ikegami Line

 

According to several rail fans' websites, Tokyu's old train, set number 7602F of the EMU 7600 series, was transported to Nagatsuta Railyard on July 5th, 2014, being pulled by special vehicles. Although an official announcement from Tokyu has not yet been made, most of the rail fans expect that 7602F will be scrapped soon. If it is true, only one set (7601F) of the 7600 series remains on the tracks of Tokyu lines.

The EMU 7600 series debuted in 1986 as a remodel of the 7200 series. The purpose of the remodeling was to transfer the 7200 series from the Oimachi to the Ikegami Line. For that purpose, the ratio of the motor cars per set was increased from half (MT ratio 1:1) to two-thirds (MT ratio 2:1). As a result, several trailer cars have been modified to motor cars. That was the time of the birth of the 7600 series.

The EMU 7600 series is popular among rail fans. Firstly, the coloring on the "face" is quite unique. They are a combination of black and red stripes. Many rail fans call it "Kabuki face". As you may know, Kabuki is a Japanese traditional performing art. Its stage makeup is very vivid. Secondly, the odd-shaped face is also lovely and attractive.

Tokyu 7601F... it is the last of the Kabuki face trains of the EMU 7600 series on the Tokyu lines.
 

Set number 7601 arrives at Yukigaya-Ootsuka Station on the Tokyu-Ikegami Line

Good Day to Yamagata Campaign

Poster train of "Yamagata-biyori" campaign, the EMU JR East E3-2000 series

 

It is hot midsummer now in Japan. According to the weather report, the daytime maximum temperature in many cities reached 35 degrees Celsius last weekend. A breath of fresh air in the northern part of Japan must be cooling. One of the ideal areas is Yamagata Prefecture in Tohoku District.

Yamagata is located some 360km north of Tokyo. This prefecture faces the Sea of Japan and is famous for its beautiful scenery and an abundance of fruit. Currently, Yamagata Prefecture and JR East are running a joint campaign to promote tourists to visit Yamagata Prefecture under the name of "Yamagata-biyori (good day to Yamagata)".

To visit Yamagata, the Yamagata Shinkansen is convenient. The EMU JR East E3-2000 series is very comfortable with a maximum speed of 275km/h. Yamagata Shinkansen is a kind of "Mini-shinkansen", which is not built the same as the standard full-sized shinkansen. It was originally constructed as a conventional line with narrow gauge (1067mm). The gauge was later changed to the shinkansen size (1435mm).

As part of the Yamagata-biyori campaign, JR East operates a poster train on the Yamagata Shinkansen. We can see many illustrations of notable sightseeing spots and Yamagata's staples on the train bodies. They include a five-story pagoda and strolling monk in Mt. Haguro, cherry fruits, a water melon, noodles, local beef, and a hanagasa (a conical hat adorned with flowers used in traditional local performing arts).

It is indeed a good day to visit Yamagata Prefecture today.
 

Side view of the poster train, the EMU E3-2000 series on the Yamagata Shinkansen