JR Central celebrates 60th anniversary of JR Central's Tokaido Shinkansen line

Japan - 1 October 2024

As the 1st October is approaching soon, the Tokaido Shinkansen line will turn 60 this year as it has been operating since 1964. As part of the celebrations for the world's first high speed line, JR Central hosts numerous events, such as a ride on the Doctor Yellow and the Linear Chuo Maglev L0 Series. Also, JR Central released a special logo designed by Noritake Suzuki just for the 60th anniversary as shown in the first picture below.

30th anniversary of Rapi:t and Haruka KIX, Nankai, and JR West to hold a special ceremony!

This year, as it is the 30th anniversary of the operations of Kansai International Airport, it is also the 30th anniversaries of the rail links to Kansai Airport, which are operated by JR West and Nankai Railways. Nankai Railways. JR West operates the Haruka Limited Express and the Kansai Airport Rapid & Direct Rapid services while Nankai operates the rap:t Limited Express and the Airport express services. 

As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations, a special ceremony was held on September 7, 2024. The special ceremony greetings in front of Rapi:t and Haruka on JR Platform 3 at Kansai Airport Station, followed by a ribbon-cutting, then with some performances and talk shows. In addition to the special ceremony, there will be various events hosted by 3 companies as part of the 30th anniversary campaign.

Plarail new items for September release - trains, bridges, tracks, accessories & more!

Update (27 Sep 2024): See my post on Tokaido Shinkansen 60th Anniversary here
Update (27 Sep 2024): See my post regarding recently released Plarail Products here

1 August 2024

Today, Takara Tomy, the company behind the famous brand of toy trains called Plarail, just released information about its new products for September release. Plarail toys are very well known among Japanese kids because they are made from real-life Japanese trains, be it from JR Group, private railways, as well as subways. 

As the 60th anniversary of the opening of Tokaido Shinkansen is nearing, Takara Tomy had slated three new products related to the Tokaido Shinkansen for the September release. Personally, I am very pleased with the new variety of products for the September release, especially to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the world's 1st high speed rail line. The following are the products that I would like to recommend for train otakus like myself. 

Product 1: 新幹線開業60周年記念 0系新幹線ひかり1号＆超特急ひかり号セット (Shinkansen 0 Series Double Set)

You may have heard that the Tokaido Shinkansen commenced operations on 1st October 1964. At that time, the rolling stock for the Tokaido Shinkansen is the 0 Series, which plies between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka in 4 hours. Currently, as of date of writing, the N700S plies the same route in 2.5 hours.

In this double set, an original 1964 Hikari plarail was re-released, but it was battery operated this time as compared to hand-operated back then where players push the train with their own hands. Unlike the actual 0 Series Hikari, the plarail version has a red nose and bottom instead of white and blue respectively. Also, a "special ticket" was given as part of the set.

Product 2: 新幹線開業60周年記念 新幹線 N700S Wチャイム仕様 (Series N700S with Chime Sound)

In addition to the 0 Series double set, Takara Tomy will also be releasing an N700S Plarail toy that comes with a sound gimmick. Hearing this news made me happy, because it has been ages since the last time a sound gimmick Plarail is released. Back home, for those with sound gimmick, I've got the N700 and N700A Plarail.

To play the music/chime, players need to use the second car (which is made based on the 5th car of the real N700S). From there, they can choose between two soundtracks - 会いにいこう and AMBITIOUS JAPAN!

Product 3: S-08 273系特急やくも (S-08 Series 273 Yakumo Limited Express). The 273 Series is set to replace the JNR-era 381 series for the Yakumo limited express linking Okayama station with the San'in region. See post on the Yakumo here.

Early this March, Takara Tomy released a Sayonara 381 Series Yakumo to commemorate the retirement of Japan's last JNR-era limited express rolling stock. This month, the new 273 Series will be released.

 

Product 4: 東京駅丸の内駅舎 (Tokyo Station - Marunouchi Side building)

References:

https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/plarail/new/2409.htm

https://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/plarail/65th/#jrkyushu

New 273 Series Train for JR's Yakumo Limited Express from 6th April 2024

Source: https://www.jr-odekake.net/railroad/yakumo/

Introduction

As the 381 Series running on JR West's Limited Express Yakumo service between Okayama and Izumoshi stations in Shimane Prefecture have been operating since 1982 and is retiring this June, it is going to be replaced by the 273 Series from 6th April this year onwards.

JR West's Twilight Express Mizukaze

What is the Twilight Express Mizukaze

Twilight Express Mizukaze (Japanese: トワイライトエクスプレス みずかぜ) is a luxury sleeper cruise train operated by JR West. This train is an excursion train, not a regular train. It is a luxury train used for trips around Western Japan and with only a capacity of 34 passengers in a 10-car configuration, it is easily one of the most expensive train trips of the world. 

JR West's West Express Ginga (including things to do in San'in)

West Express Ginga is a luxury sleeper train operated by JR West. It runs between Kyoto/Osaka Area and Izumoshi in the San'in area. The rolling stock used in this sleeper service is the 117 series. The 117 series train was formerly used as shinkaisoku (新快速, special rapid service) commuter trains in the Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe area by the Japanese National Railways (kokutetsu, 国鉄, 國鐵). Btw, JNR was privitised and split into 6 passenger companies according to region and one freight company. However, some of those old trains was refurbished for use for sleeper services. Originally, this sleeper service was slated to start running by May 2020, but was postponed to September 11 the same year due to coronavirus infections.