My first class trip on the world's STRANGEST train!

Today I'll be riding on the STRANGEST looking train that I've ever seen, the Nankai Railway's rapi:t β spaceship train to Ōsaka's Kansai International Airport!
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Journey Details:
Origin: Osaka Namba (Nankai)
Destination: Kansai Airport
Company: Nankai Electric Railway
Train: Nankai Series 50000
Accommodation: Super Seat (1st)
Distance: 43 kilometes / 27 miles
Price: ¥ 1660 (£9.90 / €11.30 / $12.40)
Time: 37 minutes, arrived on-time
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[@truckerallikatuk]

In English, it's usually called "Retro futurism", and that train looks awesome. I wish more had unique shapes like that.

[@cooltwittertag]

i mean its from the 90s, so its probably just supposed to be futuristic

[@bazoo513]

@@cooltwittertag It was already retro-futuristic then. Perhaps in the '60s...

[@cooltwittertag]

@@bazoo513 its got the gundam aesthetic that was the popular futuristic aesthetic in japan back then

[@bazoo513]

@@cooltwittertag Ah! Thanks. I had to look it up - I am not much into Japanese pop culture, as you can see (unlike, for example, one of my nieces 😀)

[@omegaprime223]

@@bazoo513 Different regions have different cultural focuses when they think of Retro Futurism, in North America it tends to be 'Cassette Futurism', Western Europe trends toward 'Raygun Gothic', Eastern Europe seems to lean into a kind of Brutalist 'Decopunk', Asia is the most interesting with a blend of 'Shibuya Punk', old school 'Art Deco' (which this train very much falls into), and a unique twist on 'Cybercore'.

[@blade-OT]

It doesn't really matter whether it's to everyone's taste. The fact that a company and city would be willing to invest in something so uniquely quirky instead of some blander "safe" designs is highly commendable!

[@jappedut9009]

The black version is the "Darth Vader" express 😂

[@galashery7264]

I took this train last time I was in Japan. It has a special place in my hart as it’s the first train I ever rode in Japan. I absolutely love the design and seeing the country for the first time from this unique train was an experience. And the fact that the rest of my family remembers the design of this train says something. Also the mascot is just so cool. I wish I had noticed that awesome photo op when I was there. Thank you for helping relive this wonderful train ride.

[@royceandrews]

😊😊😊😊

[@royceandrews]

😊😊😊

[@Giskard_Reventlov]

The leopard print seats are a homage to the Osaka aunties who traditionally wear it. It used to be a stereotype around Japan of Osakans being unfashionable, but they wore it proudly and made it a trend. Osaka is famous for the pride in their weirdness, such as the creepy mascot for the upcoming 2025 world fair.

[@Giskard_Reventlov]

BTW, the shutters were indeed for luggage checked it at Namba station, but I don't know if that service was ever implemented.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Interesting, thanks for the information!

[@scollyb]

11m in 20 years seems huge!

[@zeeox]

I was thinking that, too! I haven't Googled, but I'm guessing he must've meant mms or cms.

[@scollyb]

@zeeox I checked it was meters, but it was expected but not that quickly so it was included in the design

[@Kuricang31]

@@scollyb It is in meters, or 34 feet according to Smithsonian paper. Clearly the Japanese did some fatal miscalculations during the construction which explained why the airport was almost flooded entirely during the last major natural phenomenon

[@AnimilesYT]

They look stunning. I really wish more trains were this unique

[@peterelvery]

The shuttered section in the passageway of car 4 was originally used for pre-checked-in luggage carts, loaded from outside the train at Namba station but I don't believe it is still in use.

[@luisfneves]

Glad to finally see you in Japan. I guess you will manage to get so much interesting content there. Trains in Japan are a dream for any train lover.

[@MervynPartin]

Unless you are travelling on the Tokyo Metro with 2 large suitcases during the rush hour! Tick one item off the bucket list!

[@Sgnairport]

This is not a 'bizarre' train - it's cool and unusual

[@ReniniPanini]

0:25 Gokarts casually driving in the road... most sane osaka person XD

[@toshiyuki885]

It's bloody cool retro future design isn't it ? Another name of this is the knight helmet(鉄仮面). I definitely recommend Private railways in KANSAI. They're quite unique, luxury, and they have old trains over 50 years old. それにしても、スイス国鉄での"伏線"をここできっちり回収したとはやりますねえ！

[@rogercarroll8764]

Japan has some of the most beautiful trains of any country in the world.

[@LenaGus2728]

”The airport has sunk 11 meters. This might not seem a lot.” WHAT?!?!!?

[@mittfh]

Bizarrely, checking other sources, the island had sunk by 8.7m by 2008. Part of that was planned: being built on reclaimed land (21 million cubic metres of fill, taken from three mountains) on top of silt and wet clay, it was predicted to settle - however, in its early years, it sunk twice as fast as predicted, although by 2008 its sink rate had decreased from 50cm/year to 8cm/year. However, they've already had to raise the sea wall, excavate under the terminal building and essentially prop it up on hydraulic jacks that can be individually adjusted to take account of differing subsidence rates, plus raise the runway and resurface it in asphalt rather than the usual concrete as it can withstand more deformation before cracking; as the island needs to be at least 4m above sea level to protect it from typhoons, earthquakes etc., so more creative engineering may be required in future.

[@arch9enius]

That is a lot.

[@andrewtaylor3330]

Captain Nemo Train! How cool 😎👌 Quality with some futuristic class 👍

[@hkhrm2003]

In fact, if you register as a Nankai railway service member, you can reserve the Super Seats at the same price as the ordinary seats (520JPY).

[@SuperalbsTravels]

That's interesting, how do you sign up? 👀

[@hkhrm2003]

@@SuperalbsTravels you can try to look up for the rapit SS discount or in Japanese: ラピートＳＳ割引

[@timbounds7190]

Of course it departed and arrived on time - all Japanese trains (typhoons and earthquakes permitting) do! Its not the UK after all.....

[@Roshi_710]

I’ve ridden trains in Japan and the U.K before. Comparing the 2, U.K’s train were often late with no prior announcement…

[@luke211286]

I've landed twice at Kansai Airport but unfortunately, I've never taken this cool looking train. I think think this video got me interested in trying one. I also hope you could do a video of the new Skyliner going to/from Narita Airport

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

I took the skyliner back in oct 2022. Super comfy, fast, and smooth. A bit of a bummer that it wasn't a JR service as originally planned, but took me right to where I was staying in Ueno in about 40-45 mins.

[@TheMaartian]

Cool train! The design reminds me of the original Buck Rogers b/w serials from 1939.

[@arabiki234]

9:05 There used to be a service at Namba station where you could complete boarding procedures for your flight and staff would carry your luggage to the plane, but this service has now ended. 難波駅で飛行機の搭乗手続きを済ませて、スタッフが荷物を飛行機まで運んでくれるサービスがあったのですが、現在は終了しています

[@RicciChoi1109]

IMO an ideal passenger check-in service in rail stations should consist of a baggage handling system which is identical to the one operating in airport terminals. For example, both Hong Kong and Taipei have incorporated this concept, where checked bags at the station are transferred from check-in counter to the train, as well as from the train to airport terminal's baggage handling system automatically.

[@andrewpepper8031]

Great vid as per usual. I agree it's a cool train that looks out of this world. Brought back some wonderful memories of when I travelled on the service to Kansai.

[@SakanaOtoko]

I lived beside the Nankai line for a while and there was nothing quite like the rapit coming past at sunet - the circular windows made such a comforting pattern of light. Never got to ride one though

[@HamishG199]

Hey Superalbs this is an amazing video and I cannot wait for the next . I recommend the class 196 on the Nuneaton to Leamington line in the UK it’s an amazing small train but definitely deserves a review

[@hardly.rivai_YT]

Japan has some of the coolest looking trains in the world, and this is why. The Shinkansen has joined the bandwagon with its Hello Kitty and Pikachu 500 series trains. They even have special excursion trains (e.g.: Genbi) that were formerly used for Mini-Shinkansen lines. Back on point, due to the retro futuristic design, I'd rather travel on rapi:t β than any other airport express train in Japan, but prepared for a bumpy ride and try not to get confused when reserving on this service. 😅

[@user-9neru-ss]

おそらくピカチュウの塗装をしていたのは800系新幹線です。また500系新幹線はエヴァンゲリオンとのコラボも実現しています。

[@craiggibbons8228]

The train design look awesome. My first train was the Monorail, and as such will always hold a special place in my heart for me x

[@japanesetrainandtravel6168]

Great review on this train. I tend to opt for Haruka and have yet to use the Nankai Railway. Based on the appearance of the Rapit, the interior is really nice but I am not to keen on the cab. Didn’t know about the agreement with the MOB in Switzerland!

[@markhall3165]

Which one you take really depends on your final destination. I was always going onward to Okayama, so Haruka was usually the best choice for me. More expensive, though.

[@mikewolf7288]

I have to say that Japan is absolutely gorgeous. The architecture looks fantastic. There's just too much to see! It's almost fantastic that people just live there and it's not just a huge vacation island

[@budgetaudiophilelife-long5461]

VERY COOL 😎 AND UNIQUE TRAIN ,THANKS FOR TAKING US ALONG 🤗👍💚💚💚

[@ko-heyhey]

9:04 This is a baggage room called the "CAT baggage room". This was a service where luggage checked in at Namba Station was loaded into this area and transported from the airport station to the international cargo handling area.

[@didisinclair3605]

Loved the train, loved the video!!

[@Abhi-fx3gb]

Another great video, cheers!

[@seanmaxwell3319]

Good to see you in Japan! Nice to see everyday trains in your travel videos. Really liked the editing in this vid as well!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Glad you enjoyed it! I really had fun making this one. :)

[@user-tt5xj5ib1e]

Adding this to the bucket list. It's so beautiful :) 😍😍😍

[@missgfaulkner]

I adore the look of this train, it gives me very Thunderbirds/Captain Scarlet vibes with its retro futuristic design!

[@pakrailofficial1062]

So calm Great to see ur Vlog Beautiful railway

[@mukeshvig174]

You've done a great job 👍👍 Thanks.

[@abao]

I took this train before, amazing ride. I rate it far better than JR Haruka

[@jasongarufi8187]

A fantastic looking train for sure.

[@amicanadian2946]

I worked for a time close to the Skygate Bridge and the Rinku Tower (seen at 11:04). My colleague and I would occasionally take this train if we were in a hurry to get home. It’s definitely a big step up from the regular airport service we usually took.

[@Martin_TrainSpotter]

It looks so modern!

[@drgfan35]

Thanks for the well explained memory video.This is last ever train I ever rode in 1998. Not much in the way of trains in Victoria Canada.😊

[@Amuzic]

8:34 seeing those large porthole windows, I just realized, that those shapes provide airy/open and cozy feeling at the same time.

[@chrisiliffe7479]

thanks for the straight forward info.....stylish ride

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@AndrewG1989]

Quite like that blue painted train. Japan does have the best trains including high speed, metro, suburban, rural and regional trains across Japan.

[@iCE2sKY]

Nice train and beautiful in a special way, I like it!

[@xr6lad]

The train is sort of steampunk futuristic. Like something you’d see in a 1940’s comic book version of what they think the future was going to be.

[@0ptera]

11:32 sinking 11 meters is way too much. Did you mean it sunk 11cm?

[@hfb_blaacc2591]

It is correct, actually now at almost 12 meters. It sunk at a rate of 50cm per year in 1994 and now sinks less than 7cm per year.

[@0ptera]

@@hfb_blaacc2591 How do they keep it from being submerged at those rates? You can't just keep piling up more material on top of a runway.

[@mancampovestiminvatam1281]

That's a Transformer in service!

[@red2]

I saw this train 10 years ago at Kansai. Japan has some cool looking trains !

[@curtisdaniel9294]

Fantastic look for this train.😊

[@neurofrank9967]

This is quite cool, but I would also like to try the 1960’s style unit with could be seen very briefly at the platform.

[@lzh4950]

I remember Nankai uses Cape narrow track gauge, which would limit the train's speed (as otherwise it might become too unstable)

[@TIB1245L]

Visiting Osaka in a months time. Can't wait to take this train!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

You'll love it! 🥰

[@GreatSageSunWukong]

the train looks like a Zaku 1 from Gundam

[@simonsv9449]

Fun to see that you’re finally checking out japaneese trains!

[@gerardacronin334]

I took this journey exactly one week ago! It was a very cool train. We travelled in carriage #4, with 2x2 seating, but it was very comfortable. One thing I did not find was a USB port. I guess that’s to be expected, given the age of the carriages. I do wonder whether the “beak” interferes with the driver’s visibility.

[@maxart3392]

Jules Verne would love this design.

[@miketackabery7521]

What a BEAUTIFUL train! Very inspired by Art Deco and Art Moderne. So incredibly light and dramatic. Wow!

[@SuperalbsTravels]

It is very striking! 😍

[@Josh_Quillan]

This is nice, though far from the world's strangest train; not even Japan's strangest. If you go through Nagano prefecture at some stage, you should check out the Rokumon, historic rolling stock converted to a "cruise train" between Nagano city and Karuizawa. There's also the ultra-exclusive, fully-custom "Train Suite Shiki-shima" operated by JR East, which is not a regular timetabled service, but almost a special event on rails, also billed as a "cruise train" and used for fabulously expensive multi-day trips.

[@BritishRail60062]

Very futuristic shape to it. Nice to see it from 1994 as I thought it was newer than that.

[@waters1801]

great stuff

[@bayernbahn1549]

So the design is once great! In contrast, even the German series 103 looks a little old. I think the front is similar to a ship bug. As always, the video is great! But another question, what happens to the airport? Does it have to be closed or is a dike built?

[@pcorf]

Love the circular windows! Small homes 7:56 because of the huge population density.

[@thomas-xj1hs]

The dialogue is very helpful and comprehensive; thanks. I do wonder why the introductions are done at ":high speed"?...it's odd and contrary to the main audio for no reason I can see...

[@user-du5nr8xm7w]

my favourite train to date

[@KrotowX]

Wow! This train come directly from 1950-70 sci-fi books. I want to ride it.

[@igorsiuda8108]

Compare with Warsaw's RL train (it's capital's airport train, which calls at every station, between Modlin, where there's a shuttle bus to Modlin Airport, and Warsaw Chopin Airport via Warsaw Central).

[@NikCan66]

This is phenomenal design amd love to travel on this train.

[@RitamSanyal]

Bro pulled out a SnowPiercer 💀 and thought we won't notice. Good Luck for Ice Age survival, you are chosen.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

🤣🤣🤣

[@xlukas93]

Did you just say, that an airport sinking 11 metres over 30 years does not seem a lot? 😁

[@RAILEXCELLENCE2011]

3:32 That means that this train was made in the same year than the TMST Eurostar 😊

[@JetzeMellema]

1:25 Can we please talk about the road legal go-karts? Reminds me of the SMC F-kart 100/170 that was sold in Europe in the early 2000's.

[@michaelhall8586]

All trains should have their own superhero

[@robertp.wainman4094]

How refreshing to see a train like this - compared to the overwhelming neutral blandness of trains in the UK nowadays.

[@xr6lad]

Believe me as someone from overseas the trains in Britain are NOT bland. You do have a wide variety of designs that look good.

[@stefi300972]

the train looks like something from Thunderbirds, old but stylish and comfortable, with that who cares if it is slow, I would not want to get off for hours, cheaper than UK rail too but most countries are cheaper than the UK, oh and ontime too lol., with the condition of the old train it just shows how much Japan looks after its trains, good on em.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Exactly! The Japanese railway is fantastic!

[@KWally]

This train looks like what they though trains would look like today back in the 60's, also it seems to invoke samurai imagery with the beak.

[@Meytare]

～strange corridor, with shutters either side～ The same thing was wondering me, so I looked it up. You're right, it's a luggage storage. That's a service, passengers can receive their checked baggage directly from airplanes at railroad terminal stations. But that service is no longer provided.

[@SuperalbsTravels]

Oh cool, thank you!

[@emjayay]

I'm wondering what the regular train to the airport costs. In London there are now three rail options to Heathrow, and depending on where you are going in London the cheapest option, the regular Tube train, can be about as fast as the others despite all the stops along the way. No particular place for your luggage though, so best for lighter travelers as it may be crowded.

[@DevynCairns]

Almost everyone coming to Japan seems to get confused by how fare tickets and express tickets are entirely separate and can even be sold separately... it's one of those things that makes perfect sense if you're used to it, but almost nobody else does that.

[@tonyoliver2750]

The design could easily have figured on the cover of any Hugo Gernsback magazine from the 1920s/1930s.

[@MervynPartin]

Fascinating- It would not look out of place in a Flash Gordon movie.

[@hawkertyphoon4537]

Better looking than most of the modern Junk! and with the large Windows i´d say a quite Humane design too.

[@markswishereatsstuff2500]

Funny, locks for your luggage in a country that I don't see petty theft as an issue.

[@SharvilChavan-rf6ey]

This is the best train I've ever seen

[@NicolasZart]

I don't think of it as an airplane-looking train as to a submarine a la Jules Vernes. I remember when it was new. I used to be right next to the train I took to get back to Kyoto. It was very cool looking.

[@Gameswill2008]

I took this back in july it was very enjoyable

[@dalektorgo2973]

Antimacassar. Learned a new word today.

[@neiltaylor6645]

Not much like the outside but the interior was very nice like the round windows

[@Braamsery1992]

Saw it for the first time in Japan this year. Though I was there 3 times before. Didnt know what it was and foung the "knight mask" really interesting :D

[@mattm.2591]

11 meters sounds like a lot to me. Wow.

[@emjayay]

It is correct. For Americans that's twelve yards or 36 feet! And the internet says 38 feet. Sounds like a big mistake was made by soil engineers with the landfill.

[@harveywilde6781]

@@emjayay Yes the sink rate of the island is way underestimated. It is predicted to sink though, as it was built upon a soft seabed. WIth time the seabed compressed and the sink rate if the airport (island) reduces.

[@NicolasValentinScotland]

Everything is super clean . Awesome society

[@vongodric]

I'll try to use this service next time I go to Japan!

[@s0nnyburnett]

The only train I've seen that provides luggage security in the place where you probably need it the least.

[@ianhawkins7387]

Awesome

[@abbazabbado]

WOW! Very Flash Gordon (or Buck Rogers)-y! 🚀 👩‍🚀 🛸 One can't help but wonder if Ming the Merciless is at the controls. 👾👽

[@user-tm4ev3kv8u]

Seriously cool design.

[@RicciChoi1109]

Nankai has a better connection from KIX to central Osaka because it terminates at Namba, which has more regional rail connections than Umeda thanks to both Kintetsu, Hanshin Electric Railway and Midosuji line of Osaka Metro. However, JR is going to chase back after the Naniwa-suji line is completed in early 2030s.

[@ryanu1046]

I disagree, Osaka Station (Umeda) has connections to all line you just said except Kintetsu. JR Osaka Station even has connections to Tanimachi Lines, other JR lines, and Hankyu railway.

[@Crushery]

​@@ryanu1046 Yea but Umeda station is really confusing for anyone who isn't a Japanese railway nerd. Go to the Hanshin platforms and the station's suddenly called Osaka-umeda (not to be confused with Osaka-Namba of course) Then you go to the Osaka Metro station which apparently has "3 lines going through it". Turns out there's only one line (the Midosuji Line) and the other two are actually linked to a stupid tunnel that goes to ANOTHER STATION- AND if you want to go to JR then you have to take a 5 minute walk over a bridge, then another 5 minutes to walk to the ticket gates, then another 5 minutes to figure out what line you need to take and then finally you're on the fricking train.

[@RicciChoi1109]

@@ryanu1046 If you count Sakaisuji line as an extension of Hankyu lines... 🤣 (where both Metro's and Kintetsu Nipponbashi stations can be accessed from Namba via underground shopping streets)

[@Japanese_Bullet_Train]

Welcome to Japan

[@rousseaujeanjacques3801]

ラピートのご紹介に感謝いたします。