Welcome to Japan Railway Journal.

In this episode, we're featuring a roundup of exciting railway-related topics from the latter half of 2023.

Yes, in 2023, as the pandemic emergency has been declared over and many people's lives are coming back to normal,

we have seen the comeback of many railway related events which attracted many people either on board or along the railway line.

And those events have been happening all across Japan, so let's have a look.

On July 15, Echizen Railway in Fukui Prefecture began operating a dinosaur train, called the "Dino Liner."

The "Dino Liner" began operation following the reopening of the Dinosaur Museum near Katsuyama Station.

The two-car train was designed to reflect the period in which the dinosaurs at the Museum lived.

Inside, the train features dinosaur figures and replica fossils.

The passengers onboard are immersed in the world of dinosaurs.

It's fun!

They are very impressive up close.

The passengers can't wait to arrive at the museum.

In August, Nagaragawa Railway in Gifu Prefecture began operating a train decorated with model food,

which is made along the line in Gujo City.

In Japan, model food is often displayed in restaurant windows.

Gujo City is one of the largest producers of model food in Japan.

In cooperation with a local manufacturer, Nagaragawa Railway decorated the train with 35 realistic looking food models.

By the window, the miso soup and soft-serve ice cream really look like they have been spilled.

As do the natto, fermented soybeans, and okra attached to the hand straps.

Even the ramen noodles look like they've been overturned.

I was surprised. They really look spilled.

It's crazy! I didn't think they would look so real!

We get calls from people almost everyday
asking where they can ride the train.

It's been well received.

This train is scheduled to run until August 2024.

On September 7, JR West trialed a special tour for foreigners,

which took them on a tourist train to experience the charms of Hiroshima Prefecture.

The tour used the tourist train "etSETOra," which usually runs from Hiroshima to Onomichi Station.

On this day, the two-hour long train journey ran from Hiroshima Station to Takehara Station.

The tour participants, all foreign residents living in Japan, arrive at Hiroshima Station wearing traditional Japanese "yukata."

The experience of dressing in "yukata" was included in the tour package.

"etSETOra" approaches the platform.

The design of the car body was inspired by the calm Seto Inland Sea.

After the train departs, the participants experience calligraphy with Kumano brushes, a traditional craft in Hiroshima Prefecture,

and taste locally produced "sake."

As the train travels along the coast, the participants take pictures with their smart phones and enjoy the ride.

Some of the them even take a moment to share their experience of the tour on social media.

Arriving at Takehara Station, it's time for lunch at the hotel restaurant.

The participants enjoy a lunch course made using produce from along the line.

After lunch, they take a stroll through the preserved historical townscape of Takehara City, which is home to many old streets.

It was a lot of fun, and I got to see places that I hadn't seen before even though I lived in Hiroshima a long time.

I liked wearing "yukata" and the restaurant was superb.

Maybe the "sake," "Nihonshu."

The "sake" drinking was the best.

Everything was good.

I liked the train a lot.

I may come here with my husband or friends.

Following the trial, tours for foreigners on "etSETOra" were held three times a month until the end of December.

In September, an event was held to ride a train known as the "pumpkin train," which was discontinued 25 years ago.

The beloved train was called the "pumpkin train" because of its green and orange color.

The "pumpkin train" used to run on the 36-km Niigata Kotsu line, which connected Niigata and Tsubame Cities in Niigata Prefecture.

After the line closed in 1999, a local preservation group acquired three train cars, which they continue to maintain and repair.

On this day, the "pumpkin train" slowly makes its way along a 50 meter section of rail,

towed by a vehicle mover, carrying passengers who booked the experience in advance.

It was fun.

It was interesting. It has a different kind of
feeling to trains nowadays.

Beginning November 8, Mass-Trans Innovation Japan was held for three days at the International Exhibition Hall in Chiba Prefecture.

This time, 569 companies and organizations from Japan and abroad, the largest number ever, participated in the event,

displaying the latest construction vehicles, rolling stock equipment, and other products.

As part of a new initiative, a special area was set up to support regional railways that are suffering from declining passenger numbers.

Thirty regional railway companies from across Japan participated, selling original goods and promoting tourism.

On December 9 and 10, one of the largest railway festivals in Japan was held in Osaka for the first time in five years.

Here, railway companies and other organizations from across Japan gathered to hold railway-related exhibitions.

Around 110 companies and organizations, including railway companies and local governments, participated in the event.

Here, participants can interact with a real, working pantograph.

Raised by air pressure, the children try as hard as they can to pump it up.

In this area, child-sized uniforms from various companies were available to try on.

And this area had a variety of railway goods for sale, attracting many families and railway fans.

Next is a new initiative from the railway industry.

"Hello how can I go to Kawagoe？"

In July, a new real-time translation system was trialed at the counter of Seibu Railway's Seibu Shinjuku Station in Tokyo.

It was developed to provide smooth interactions at the service counter as the number of visitors to Japan rapidly recovers.

The system is available in 12 languages, including English and Chinese.

The 40cm-high transparent screen between the customer and the station staff

translates and displays foreign languages spoken in Japanese and vice versa.

Since the pandemic, we've recovered around
70-80% of your inbound passenger numbers.

That's very rapid recovery.

Being able to see people's faces is a big plus.

Following the trial, Seibu Railway began full-scale operation of the system from November.

On August 31, a test run of a Class D51 steam locomotive was held on the JR Yamaguchi Line.

The Class D51 that pulls the tourist train SL Yamaguchi has been undergoing repairs

after the tender that loads coal and water malfunctioned in 2022.

The test run on this day is to inspect the vehicle.

At an intermediate station, maintenance staff inspect the train for any defects.

The Class D51 hadn't been seen running on the Yamaguchi Line in a year and four months so it attracted many railfans.

I'm happy to see it running after such a long time.

JR West will continue to inspect the vehicle in order to resume the SL Yamaguchi service.

On September 28, JR East, which is aiming to build a new logistics system using the Shinkansen,

conducted a full-scale trial run using the Hokuriku Shinkansen to transport agricultural products and other goods in bulk from Nagano Prefecture.

At the rolling stock depot in Nagano City, agricultural products such as Shine Muscat grapes, as well as precision machinery,

totaling approximately 700 boxes, were loaded onto the Shinkansen.

For this trial, they checked the operation to see how much cargo can be handled efficiently.

JR East plans to begin running a commercial logistics system using the Hokuriku Shinkansen in or after April 2024.

On November 10, Nagoya Railroad in Aichi Prefecture began operating a system that detects abnormalities at rail crossings.

With this system, AI, artificial intelligence, analyzes images from surveillance cameras installed near railway crossings in real time.

The system automatically detects when a person or vehicle is inside the crossing when a train is approaching.

When there is an abnormality, a signal beside the track in front of the crossing lights up to tell the driver to apply the emergency brake.

Nagoya Railroad plans to install the system at 10 locations in Aichi Prefecture by March 2024.

That dinosaurs train looked absolutely fantastic and I love how it brought together,

the hobbies of big and little kids which are trains and dinosaurs.

And I loved the "etSETOra" trains with all those non-Japanese passengers wearing the "yukata."

They looked really really nice.

Yeah, they looked really fun and I would've love to actually take part in that tour.

Mentioning foreign travelers and tourists, I think that simultaneous translation system

that they had at the station looked very interesting.

Yes, indeed. And that, I think it's inspired by the latest developments of the Artificial Intelligence technology.

And, you know, it's definitely the possibility that railway companies should pursue,

and there's an ample possibilities that they will succeed.

Yeah, we had say goodbye to some vehicles and we could say hello to some new vehicles.

Let's have a look.

On October 17, the new Yakumo limited express train that runs mainly on the JR Hakubi Line

connecting Okayama and Shimane prefectures was unveiled to the press.

The bronze color of the car body was inspired by the setting sun on the surface of Lake Shinji

and the flimming torches at festivals in Shimane Prefecture.

Inside the train, all of the seats are equipped with power outlets, and there is now space for suitcases and other large luggage items.

Another major change is comfort.

The new train is equipped with a device that tilts the car body as it rounds curves to improve the comfort of the ride.

We hope the train will become an iconic part
of the landscape along the Hakubi Line

and be loved by passengers and locals
for many years to come.

This new Yakumo limited express is scheduled to begin service from April 2024.

On October 27, the Transportation Bureau, City of Sendai, in Miyagi Prefecture invited elementary school students on a tour

to familiarize them with the new rolling stock that will be introduced in the fall of 2024.

Running along the top of the aluminum car's brushed-metal bodywork

is a yellow-green and green line reminiscent of the lush green city of Sendai.

Inside the cars, there are now more handrails along the bench seats,

and to ensure barrier-free accessibility there is a wheelchair space in each car.

The new vehicle is very nice. It has more handrails
than before and the seats are very comfortable.

On December 23, JR East's new tourist train "Hinabi" made its debut.

This train will operate on routes in both Aomori and Iwate prefectures.

On this day, the departure ceremony was held at Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture.

The exterior of the 2-car train is white, with red accents and designs depicting elements from nature

such as flower blossoms, mountains, and rivers.

Each car has an observation area with large windows so passengers can enjoy the scenery along the line.

The train can carry up to 59 passengers.

The Green Car has box seats for four people and two people, as well as single seats.

Seen off by rail fans and JR staff, "Hinabi" departs with 55 passengers onboard who reserved their seats in advance.

While 2023 saw the debut of several new vehicles, others, sadly, had to be retired.

On July 21, many rail fans gathered at Okayama Station where the Series 117 that ran on the JR Sanyo Main Line

was scheduled to depart for its final run.

The popular Series 117, was introduced in 1979 back in the days of the Japanese National Railways.

I wanted to ride it one last time to send it off.

The prominent face of the train is very nostalgic.

It has a retro feel that goes back to the days of
the Japanese National Railways. It's very cool.

Upon arrival at Okayama Station, many fans board the train for its last scheduled service.

On October 31, the Tokaido Shinkansen ended its onboard trolley service.

The service, which has been a part of the Shinkansen since it started in 1964,

was popular among passengers for its drip coffee and ice cream.

However, due to declining sales and labor shortages, the company decided to discontinue the service.

Many passengers expressed their regret that the onboard trolley service was coming to and end.

It feels like we are turning a page in history.

If I was running late, I felt safe knowing I could
get something to eat and drink onboard.

I'll miss it when it's gone.

In November, the Tokaido Shinkansen introduced a new service for Green Car passengers,

allowing them to order food and drinks from their seats using their mobile devices.

On November 23, the "Okuizumo Orochi" tourist train that ran on the JR Kisuki Line

between Shimane and Hiroshima prefectures ended service.

The train, which began service in 1998, attracted many tourists with its retro wooden seats, and peaceful country views.

However, due to the deterioration of the locomotive, the service was discontinued.

Since it's the train's last run, we want to
make a memory that will last forever.

Thank you for 26 years. That's all I want to say.

The train made its last round-trip watched over by a number of people who live along the line.

Arriving at the terminal station a little after 4:00 p.m.,

where many fans waited to say goodbye, "Okuizumo Orochi" closed the curtain on its 26-year history.

In Osaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, an old steam locomotive statically preserved near JR Nishi-Furukawa Station

which is now scheduled to be dismantled was decorated with lights.

This steam locomotive is a former Japanese National Railways class C58, which ran in Miyagi Prefecture until the 1970s.

After it retired, the locomotive was stored outside in this park for nearly 50 years.

However, the body became so damaged it was set to be dismantled.

It was inevitable, really. Sadly, it's just
too hard to maintain.

After all, it's very old now.

To send it off in style, a local residents' organization decided to decorate the locomotive with lights,

which could be seen from October 22 until the end of November.

The locomotive was decorated with approximately 80,000 LED lights;

a delightful spectacle for passengers passing by the park on the train.

This Class C58 is set to be fully dismantled by the end of February 2024.

There were definitely some sad goodbyes but also some promising new beginnings

like the new Yakumo with that bronze colored body and it looked amazing.

Yes, and those vehicles come with the latest version of the tilting system

which are designed to improve the ride qualities for the passengers.

I do hope that, in the near future, I can try those trains

and see how those systems work on that particular stretch of the railway.

Another thing I'm sad that we had to say goodbye to is the onboard trolley service on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

I used to look forward to that lady coming down, the aisle with her cart selling drinks between Kyoto and Tokyo on my trips.

I must say that I do miss the service too.