Recent releases of Plarail Products (Mar - Sep 2024)

This blog post is going to talk about what I recommend among the recent releases of Plarail products. Plarail is a brand of toy trains that were made by Tomy since 1959. It has been very popular among Japanese children because it has a variety of toy trains made based on real-life Japanese trains, which can be played by constructing different layouts and scenery parts.

In this post, I am going to show you the recent lineup of Plarail products since March 2024. As this year was Plarail's 65th anniversary and Takara Tomy's founding centenary, some products may bear the 65th anniversary logo as part of the box packaging, while one of them will bear the 100 logo.

March 2024

In this month's release, there will be 2 commemorative releases of retiring trains, the 381 Series Yakumo Limited Express and the Steam Locomotive Hitoyoshi. The former is Japan's last JNR-era limited express rolling stock while the latter is an excursion train in Kyushu.

April 2024

Product 1: 100のレイアウトがつくれる！ドリームレールキット (100 Layout Dream Rail Set) (LAYOUT SET)

As part of Takara Tomy's 100th Anniversary and Plarail's 65th Anniversary, there are two layouts where players can form the numbers 100 and 65 respectively, using the items available in the set.

Product 2: R-30 三角ポイントレール (R-30 Triangle pointed rail) (RAIL PART)

Product 3: プラレール リアルクラス 201系通勤電車（JR西日本・オレンジ）(TRAINS)

June 2024

Product: 景色のカラーレールキット～海と鉄道～(LAYOUT SET)

July 2024

Product 1: プラレール リアルクラス ブルートレインあさかぜ (TRAINS)

Product 2: プラレール リアルクラス 185系特急電車（新幹線リレー号） (TRAINS)

Product 3: S-59 京阪電車13000系きかんしゃトーマス号 (TRAINS)

Product 4: リアル直線レール (RAIL PART)

Product 5: リアル曲線レール (RAIL PART)

August 2024

Product: JR九州 スプラトレイン (TRAINS)

September 2024 (more recommended products in this post here)

Product 1: 景色のカラーレールキット～紅葉と鉄道～(LAYOUT SET)

Product 2: 駅とつながる自動Ｙ字ポイントレールキット (LAYOUT SET)

Product 3: レバーでアクション＆サウンド！ビッグステーション (LAYOUT SET)

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

Today, I would like to share two upcoming releases of Plarail trains and parts. Recent months saw a variety of special releases, be it rolling stock or rail sets being released due to Plarail's 65th anniversary and Takara Tomy's 100th anniversary. Also, there are a few releases of Plarail Real Class line of toy trains made based on retired Japanese trains as well as Landscape Color Rail Kits based on seasons of the year.

 

November 2024

Product 1: さよなら381系特急やくも（混色編成仕様）(Goodbye Series 381 Yakumo Mixed Color Edition) (TRAINS)

Product 2: J-25 オートで相互発車！たてよこ駅 (Automatic Mutual Departure Station) (RAIL PART)

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