Slower than a Bullet Train, Nicer than a Regular Train

[@auxiliarypowerunit]

Tobu Railways be like: "This Commuter Semi-Limited Rapid Express will continue onto the Fukutoshin Line as a Special Express, after which it will become an F Liner Super Express upto Shin-Yokohoma from which it will be a Rapid train till this train's terminus at Shonandai. Thank you for riding Tobu Railways"

[@Thom-TRA]

Lol for real

[@Cupertinorail]

I am a rider on Caltrain and can agree that there's a resemblance there to the Japanese Commuter format. If you ride the train a lot like me, it can be like playing the color game. If I lose then I must take a train that stops at all the stations including the small ones or have to wait longer for a train that stops at my destination station. Don't like it when it happens but you get what you paid for. A win means I don't have to bother with the low traffic stations and just zip right by.

[@officialmcdeath]

Odakyu Romancecar echoes the MOB Crystal Panoramic \m/

[@R4baDader]

Would definitely be cool to see if NJT could have their "super express" trains on the northeast corridor with special branding or designations, those are always super fun to catch on the northeast corridor, and technically hit the 125 mph lower limit for high speed rail just before New Brunswick.

[@Thom-TRA]

They used to have one to Atlantic City!

[@adithyaramachandran7427]

There is an NYP-Trenton express around 6 PM that only makes 4 or 5 stops. I think that train hits almost 100 MPH between New Brunswick and Trenton and sometimes gets double header ALP46's. Have taken this train a few times in the past. I think they can try to extend a few of these trains to Vineland via the Conrail line using ALP45DP's.

[@EpicThe112]

​@adithyaramachandran7427 there is also a Trenton to New York Penn Express that does this it's the 3:25 p.m. from New Brunswick

[@vanlevy2008]

Last month I was in Japan on a rail tour and we did get to travel on the Romance Limited Express. I know understand it role better. Thanks for the video.

[@Thom-TRA]

I hope you enjoyed your ride on the Romancecar! Any other cool trains you did?

[@vanlevy2008]

@@Thom-TRA Nothing outside the Shinkansen Train (one trip 5.5 hours late due to a typhoon. I would though recommend the main room of Kyoto Station as a breathtaking 21th century railroad station.

[@TannerJ96]

Great look at a very nice service that seems to be so rare in the US. Funny that you would shout out the UP-NW line at the beginning, because that corridor is exactly the type of corridor that would be the perfect candidate for a Limited Express service. Even if the service wasn’t extended further north (having a train connection to Madison, WI would be a dream, but even going out to Rockford would be a massive improvement), cutting down the travel time from Harvard to Downtown below an hour and a half would really incentivize the usage of Metra over opting to drive down into the city.

[@Thom-TRA]

The construction on the Kennedy shows that there are large groups of people willing to take the train. You’re right, improving the UPNW would make it super popular. I think they’re planning to extend the MDW to Rockford. Though I agree, Madison would be even better.

[@TannerJ96]

@@Thom-TRA any train out to Rockford would be incredible. and MD-W would be even nicer since that goes right into Union Station and would make Amtrak connections even easier (though the 3-4 block walk from Ogilvie to Union is hardly an inconvenience, but would be great for the movement-impaired)

[@ThreadsLovesTrains]

I highly highly recommend the Hinotori train as an alternative for those traveling between Nagoya and Osaka. It takes about 2 hours instead of 1 but the premium car is absolutely amazing. Huge windows, super comfy seats, and completely silent. It's magical.

[@Thom-TRA]

And vending machines right?

[@ThreadsLovesTrains]

​@@Thom-TRA Yep. Special eco bags, hand towels, and other goodies.

[@cleasanna05]

Its worth it, indeed the luxury of the ride makes up for the extra time it takes. Takes a alternate route than shinkansen through the countryside. Non JR. Has mini lounge seats and numerous places to get food and drinks. First class seats are electric and recline with a push button. Great views from the front and rear cab cars that are elevated.

[@ianweniger6620]

Beauty. Limited Express is the best option anywhere IMHE. AAAAAANDDD...Not only is our host Dutch but spent his childhood in Japan! NO WONDER trains are awesome!

[@Thom-TRA]

The host hopes you enjoy trains as much as he does :)

[@transportspotterraphael]

Ah Limited Expresses is something I'm also very interested in. One thing I think would have been interesting to note, although obvious, is the fact that those Limited Expresses usually can overtake local trains thanks to passing loops dotted around the commuter networks. Another thing I think would have been very interesting to mention is how Seibu, Keio and Tobu have those commuter trains which can switch seat layout and use selective door opening to have only one door per carriage opened; some even use a seat reservation and although I don't think they're called "Limited Express", they do have those special names as well. (S-Train, Keio Liner and TH/TJ Liner respectively). Also, one of my favourites along some of the ones you mentioned is the 60000 series MSE, simply because it's kinda cool isn't it? Being a properly intercity looking train able to use the metro tunnels! Otherwise that's some good content there! Love that you're one of the only few to explain limited expresses to the extent that I only was able to find out by researching that topic for months prior to that...

[@Thom-TRA]

I actually purposely left the S-Train, Keio Liner, TH/TJ Liner out of the video just so I wouldn’t confuse people too much if this is their first introduction to the subject. Hoping to make a follow-up video touching on those in the next few weeks.

[@transportspotterraphael]

@@Thom-TRA Oh that's completely understandable then, yeah in that case I agree a lot, that would be a great video topic as a fun fact!

[@Thom-TRA]

Here's the part two, talking about the S-Train: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnLZp3lnaMeffbM

[@transportspotterraphael]

@@Thom-TRA Oh thank you so much for thinking about linking it to me, that's extremely kind and considerate of you, thank you so much!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

London's Metropolitan line has a peak period service with a limited express stopping pattern, running super fast to Amersham. I've always thought it would be cool if it had special limited express rolling stock, perhaps starting from the disused platform 5 at Moorgate.

[@Thom-TRA]

A metro deluxe would be super nice

[@LQC2556]

8:12 Caltrain actually did use special trains for its limited express service when it was first introduced, specifically the MPI locomotives and Bombardier bilevel cars. However, now they just use all the rolling stock interchangeably, which will still be the case after they upgrade to the electric trains.

[@Cupertinorail]

I actually ride the C-train and it is very hard to catch a limited train because there are they are not there when I need it or don't stop at the stations I need.

[@history_leisure]

Amtrak's Keystone kind of acts like a Super Express between Lancaster and Philadelphia. After 30th Steet, it goes express to Ardmore (SEPTA usually does express to or short turn at Bryn Mar, but a few don't stop til Radnor, and Wayne-which I didn't know as the SEPTA app said the train would get me from the city back home and not how it was doing it. There used to be Paoli expresses-but COVID seems to have killed this), Paoli (also used by the Pennsylvanian), Exton, Downingtown (which was briefly the line's terminus until Thorndale was built) plus 2 former stops (Coatesville-which will be restored as a SEPTA service once a new station is built) and Parkesburg (the terminus when the Center City Commuter Connection opened). After Lancaster, it has a stops in Harrisburg territory-which makes it feel a little commuter-like (Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Middletown), but a local service could add Highspire and the Airport before Harrisburg (the Pennsylvanian serves Elizabethtown, so the other two would loose Amtrak in my opinion if Harrisburg had its own regional rail). Toward New York it does hit Cornwells Heights and the 7 main main NJT Corridor line stations, so its just an old Clocker at that point

[@btomimatsucunard]

LA to SF needs a premium express service, both as a day train and a night train. Since CAHSR is taking so damn long, there needs to be a reliable service between SF and LA that runs faster than the starlight does today. Imagine bringing back the Daylight or the Lark.

[@Thom-TRA]

I believe a private company is starting a sleeper train between the two cities.

[@btomimatsucunard]

@@Thom-TRA I saw! It is exciting, tho I am a bit concerned with the business model and pricing. While I cannot say what kind of rooms they are offering, they seem to be going towards the roomette and bedroom model seen on Amtrak today. If they want to be more successful, it may behoove them to either include section sleepers or coaches, or both. Especially given the amount of colleges along the route

[@nuzkie]

Haven't been to Kyushu before but the Sonic 883 is definitely my favorite limited express train. That thing just looks dope

[@Thom-TRA]

Give me all the robot-looking trains

[@cleasanna05]

I've had many experiences on Japanese limited express trains. They are usually very comfortable, quiet, and have nice interiors. Some of my favorite to ride include the 287/289s on the Sanin main line/Fukuchiyama line/hanwa line. The HC 85 trains based in Aichi, The 383 Shinano, The 681/683 thunderbird/Shirisagi, the Haruka 281/271, the HOT 7000(one of the most fun) Super Hakuto. 381 Yakumo is a JNR Era train that is nice to ride. 885 Komome and Sonic in Kyushu, lt Express Hinotori(kintetsu line), the Doson line limited express to Shikoku. Also the E259 Narita express, lt Express Hamakaze Kiha 189. There are many more in Japan, but these are the ones I've enjoyed the most.

[@user-lz3ut8qp5j]

I'm so glad you made this video! I have not heard any other youtubers talking about my favorite aspect of Japanese railways, their various levels of service. A small thing I would add is also showing how the timetable looks like. It is so much prettier than timetables in the US (which are no longer being published in the case of amtrak!) and makes figuring out when your train is coming a breeze (since they can be found on the train platform itself). I have my own nickname for the fastest service on a given line, the Super Special Rapid Limited Express!

[@trainyard3417]

Great video as always! In France, this kind of service exists, but it’s a bit complicated, because there is two kinds of limited express (for Paris), First, the suburban trains (Transilien and RER), that looks like a regular train on the inside, that runs semi-express services on the middle and far surburbs, even out of Paris’s region, And then, there is the TER (the regional trains). In those, you can find stopper trains, that do classic routes, and the express, that stops only at certain stops, and go much further than the stopper ones. For example, the TER Bourgogne Paris-Lyon, or the Normandy TER Paris Cherbourg at 125mph (those are regular trains!), Plus, the cool thing is that, in Paris and its suburbs, those trains run on the very same tracks as the TGV (high speed), so it’s great to see, Anyway, great video!

[@DevynCairns]

I took the Sunrise this year, it was fun. Got into the Tokyo area with the sun rising and office workers on their rush hour commute out the window, while I was just sitting on top of a comfy bed. I think they should bring back more regular overnight services. It was actually fully reserved I think, if not then close to it. JR staff actually said if you want a double room you basically have to book it on the day that they're first available, because they run out so quickly, so there's definitely popularity.

[@Thom-TRA]

The Sunrise Express is extremely popular, and I think its status as the last one contributes to it. With the trains beginning to show their age, I’m worried about what might happen.

[@cleasanna05]

The Shinkansen, long distance buses, along with capsule hotels and ferries killed most sleeper trains in Japan. There is just not a big market for them anymore when you can get most places on the shinkansen network if you leave by 915pm, or 11pm if you are going regionally on the shinkansen. Long distance night buses are cheaper, access more places and only need 2 crew or so, while sleeper trains are less cost effective for the railways due to crew scheduling and limited market share and frequency. Ferries take some of the market share as well as they connect cities and some have hotel style accommodations. Cheap capsule hotels make it easier to relax for 5-6 hours and then catch a morning train by 6am, as shinkansens start as early as 6 as well as some limited express trains. Really not many reasons to use a overnight train unless it's for fun or you pay the big bucks to ride a special luxury train with a significant other. The Sunrise express survives by connecting some smaller cities and then pushing through the most populated Areas of Japan which allows the train to serve multiple areas and pick more passengers up before heading to Tokyo.

[@atshinkansen7439]

On the Sunrise Express’s paint scheme, it looks to me as though it’s supposed to be reminiscent of the JNR-era limited express colors.

[@jfmezei]

Shinkansen may have been the first, but consider the United Aircraft Turbo Train in USA and Canada. It came close to the speed for original Shinkansen but came about 4-5 years later. The problem is that there were no tracks in North America for it to go at fill speed except test tracks (it still holds the speed record for North America). Of course, the Shinkansen got speed upgrades that blew past what the Tuirbo could do. But initially, North America was up there in the running. And unlike inJapan where speeds increased, in Canada where the Turbo remained in service till early 1980s, its allowed speeds was decreased over time. (it was originally able to do Montréal-Toronto on 03:59 and todars the end was over 5 hours as as the case for the slow VOA trains of today. Note that Amtrak as its NE Regional trains and Acela trains. Acela is limited stop and costs more. It only goes faster than Regional on a short stretch of track north of Trenton. It's time savings is from reduced stops.

[@Thom-TRA]

I mentioned the Acela in the video…

[@saulschlapik6818]

I rode the UA Turbo about 10 times between NYP and BOS, as well as twice in Canada. I loved riding it, especially the domes at each end; it was the only Amtrak train you could see out the front. In 1970, the year before Amtrak, it took 3:44 from Grand Central to Boston over the bankrupt Penn Central. Now the fastest Acela takes 3:35 to NY and 3:42 "uptown". After electrification, track upgrades and the tilting trains, is 9 minutes really the best Amtrak can do?

[@jonathantransitauthority]

Tbh, I like the Limited Express better then a regular commuter trains in Japan. If I was to pick a Limited Express to ride, I would go with Kintetsu Railway. They have so many different Limited Express trains, I can't even pick my favorite

[@user-lz3ut8qp5j]

I've had bad luck riding with Kintetsu, several times. My favorite in the Kyoto area is Keihan. They have onboard wi-fi!

[@patrickrichmond9896]

I somehow managed to see another railroad video that was made by another KZbin member and he filmed a cab ride in a power car with the cab's windows sat on the roof of the power car. There are some nice railroads that do let you film some cab rides but not many. I had a Pentrex VHS cassette based on a cab ride along the BNSF Cuba Subdivision. When you came to St. Louis to film a ride on the MetroLink, there was the Blue line that connects to MetroBus route number 56 in Shrewsbury. My suburb of Kirkwood is loaded with trains. So if you come to St. Louis again by rail, you may want to take the Blue line all the way to Shrewsbury, change to MetroBus route number 56 and there is an interesting grade crossing in Kirkwood. That is located at Big Bend and Geyer. It is where the BNSF tracks cross Big Bend and then immediately crosses Geyer Road. About 3/4 of a mile north of Big Bend on Kirkwood Road is the historic Kirkwood Amtrak station. Just west of the train station is the Museum of Transportation. By looking at my icon, you see that St. Louis Public Service PCC streetcar number 1664 lives there along with St. Louis Public Service streetcar number 1743.

[@NonstopEurotrip]

I agree tbh, the Ltd Expresses are just more interesting than the Shinkansen and go to nicer places. And I'm sorry CalTrain. Baby bullet wtf 😂

[@Thom-TRA]

That is high praise coming from such a Shinkansen fan!

[@carmelopearman5721]

Loving trains and growing up in japan: you lived the same experience as me

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I have never been to Japan 🗾, Hong Kong is the nearest I've been to it,but I'd have said Limited Express might be what in much of the world is known as semi fast all this generally pertains to the speeds and stopping rather than the kind of rolling stock.Some high speed trains haven't put sleeping trains out of action as apparently because of the huge size of China some of it's high speed trains have sleeping accommodations on them as even at the high speeds many trips are still overnight.

[@hobog]

Ye the Chinese sleeper HSR I think runs at lower speeds too to make sense, ~230kmh?

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this great video ! Fascinating trains, and the Limited Express is an idea that could be copied in many places. However, I find it tedious, and probably inevitable, that all the trains you show in Japan are Multiple Unit types! The United States are not too keen on them for other than Metro type operations, and long live the loco hauled trains !

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Thank you for this excellent video ! I have not sampled the Utah Front Runner, but have read much about it. It sounds good, and whilst they use diesel,locos - as a huge diesel loco fan (!) I think they are wonderful, and those MPI locos are probably as emission friendly as any at the moment. Electrification would be ideal, but just consider the time and anguish taken to electrify Cal Train from San Fran Cisco to San Jose ! It is worth mentioning the New Mexico Rail Runner, which I have sampled. That is very good, and uses similar cars and locos to Utah. It even has a token (!) four trains in each direction all the way from Sant Fe to Belen on a Sunday ! Really worth a visit!

[@jmckenzie962]

For me the closest thing the UK has to these kinds of trains can be found in the former "Network SouthEast" region of British Rail - on the South West Trains system out of London Waterloo, for instance, you have regular commuter services that typically use Class 450 and 455 trains, along with long-distance services to places like Portsmouth, Southampton and Weymouth that typically use Class 444 trains that run at shockingly fast speeds for a third-rail-powered line. These Class 444 trains are definitely a middle ground between commuter trains and the 125mph/200kph Intercity trains that don't really run south of the Thames due to the third rail power (with the exception of the Javelin trains that use HS1), and are used quite a bit by super-commuters from places like Basingstoke, Guildford and Woking who have been pushed further and further out of London over the years by rising house prices.

[@iceblade019]

As a chinese growing up in Shanghai and familiar with our metro system, I’ve always been fascinated by how japanese railway blends what essentially serves as regional lines with metro-like trains and long haul services like all these 特急. Also the sight of a double decker green cars among high capacity cars on 中央线 or 常磐线 are hilarious af. (Sorry for the use of kanji as i don’t know japanese and am only familiar with the terms written in kanji)

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s okay! The first one is Chuo-sen (the kanji for line is a little different in Japanese, it’s 線) and the second one is Jobab-sen.

[@EElgar1857]

The "Sunrise" looks a lot like Deutsche Bahn trains in the 1970s!

[@trainsandmore2319]

The Keisei Skyliner has a top speed of 160 km/h. It’s definitely the fastest one of the bunch as it only took me 40 min from Keisei-Ueno to Narita Airport via a more direct route on mostly its own tracks compared to the slower and slightly more expensive JR Narita Express (roughly 1 hr to the airport).

[@Thom-TRA]

The skyliner is the best for traveling to Narita, hands-down

[@frafraplanner9277]

The abandoned shinkansen alignment definitely helps!

[@eechauch5522]

I have to say, I have a hard time comparing these services to German services. Since we don’t really have private rail companies there’s really only one flagship service, the ICEs. We do have some interregional express (IRE) services with very limited stops. But those don’t really have more premium trains then the regular regional trains. The closest thing would probably be some of the tourist oriented intercity (IC) services to Sylt, the Bodensee or the Allgäu, but those are far from flagship services in terms of rolling stock and operate as long distance trains and not part of a regional line. I guess on many lines the ICE and IC long distance trains play a similar role but aren’t part of the regional train lines.

[@Thom-TRA]

The European railway system is very different from the Japanese one

[@hobog]

Ye EU sleeper trains are all international yeah?

[@Thom-TRA]

@@hobog no there are domestic ones in France, Italy, the UK, and some other large countries.

[@Sacto1654]

There is also the Special Rapid (新快速) service on JR West in the Osaka region, trains that look like regular commuter trains but have very few stops on certain lines. The most famous is the service between Maibara and Banshū-Akō on the Tokaidō and San’yō Main Lines, which goes through Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe and Himeji along the way.

[@Thom-TRA]

Those are just a regular commuter train though. No extra charge.

[@Sacto1654]

@@Thom-TRA I wouldn't class them as "regular" train, since the Special Rapid service actually runs on separate tracks than the regular all-stops commuter trains. For example, between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka Stations, a Special Rapid train only makes *ONE* stop along the way.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@Sacto1654 yes but they use 223/225 series trains and require no fare. There are other examples of really fast trains, like the Commuter Express on the Keiyo line, that do not qualify as limited express. Anyone with a valid fare can ride the Special Rapid, so it is just a regular commuter train.

[@cleasanna05]

Actually JR west is Adding a limited express option on some special rapid service 225 trains by converting 1 cab car to the "A-Seat train" Similar to some trains in Tokyo, this gives those who wish to take a commuter train the option to avoid standing crouds by getting a reserved seat. Its only 1 car per train and it recently started this year but it is a option now on some 225 trains. Other than that the Special rapid service is still a commuter train, but its a fast one that covers Kansai east-west very well, and it is a more convenient than the Shinkansen in some respects due to being cheaper and stopping at Osaka and Sannomiya Stations that don't have the Shinkansen.

[@Sacto1654]

@@cleasanna05 The best thing about the Special Rapid service is that you only stop at certain stations between Kyoto and Himeji: Takatsuki, Shin-Osaka, Osaka, Amagasaki, Ashiya, Sannomiya, Kobe, Akashi and Nishi-Akashi. Osaka to Himeji on Special Rapid service is really fast (and way cheaper than Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Himeji). It's the closest equivalent in the Osaka area to a commuter express train.

[@frafraplanner9277]

I have been trying to figure out what TH these named trains running on the mainlines were for a month now. Thank you!

[@kc3302]

Very well explained. I thought you weren't going to cover the commuter/suburban train lines that ran Limited Express services (Keikyu, Hankyu, etc.) but of course you did at the end! If you want another Japanese train topic that would be of interest to your viewers: Joyful/theme/sightseeing trains across the country - Hello Kitty Shinkansen, various Torokko trains etc.

[@jnrfalcon]

It might be a bit before your time, but I am still surprised that I don't see any mention of Hikarian when KZbinrs talks about Japanese railways. It was quite something when I was in elementary or middle school... 🤣

[@JohnGeorgeBauerBuis]

I do remember reading that the Baby Bullets debuted with the Bombardier Bilevel coaches being used exclusively for these trains instead of gallery cars, and the then-new MPI locomotives were the normal power for them as well. I’m not sure if that is still the case, if anyone who is more familiar with CalTrain wants to chime in.

[@Thom-TRA]

That’s not the case anymore. When I rode the baby bullet last year, it was an F40 with gallery cars.

[@yashio4214]

Nice video, I would like to add about private companies a few have "home liner services" which use either regular rolling stock with transverse seating(think tobu 50090 and 70090, keikyu 2100, keiyo 5000, and seibu 40000). I know technically home liners aren't limited Express but the JR ones do use limited Express rolling stock(Jr Tokai even uses it for local trains) but thought it's a fun tidbit you might have missed.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve been on the S-Train before. I didn’t include it in this video on purpose, because i think it would confuse the audience. This video is just an introduction, I hope to cover home liners in a future video!

[@Thom-TRA]

Here's the part 2, talking about the S-Train: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnLZp3lnaMeffbM

[@Cupertinorail]

Limited express doesn't only apply to Japanese high speed trains but some city bus lines around the world. Take where I live. Until the end of 2019. My county (Santa Clara County), CA had limited express buses which has a stop model sort of like the trains in Japan. It really ticked me off that they got rid of them because neighborhoods that formerly had bus service now have 0 public transport

[@ck4426]

So interesting and so much nicer/cleaner/faster/better than the USA!!!

[@nicklittle8780]

Thanks - great video. Nice and simple, straightforward explanations and supporting illustrations and clips. I've never been to Japan but grew up in Europe and commuted into London on limited stop express trains for many years. Need a decent population density and congestion charging to make it work in the USA, I fear.

[@Thom-TRA]

Plenty of US cities have the density to warrant good train service! Just need political change

[@frafraplanner9277]

Downtown Portland to Mt. Hood should have a Limited Express train (that would require this route to have rail service in the first place)

[@fenlinescouser4105]

Unfortunately, I have never been to Japan but I am a long-term viewer of Japan Railway Journal on NHK WORLD TV (also available on YTube) Together with contrasts and comparisons in rolling stock provision and operating practises I find the cultural attitude regarding their railways significance to be fascinating.

[@Zakahia]

Great Video!^^ For me personally, I find the various "Tiers" of Train services on Japanese railways very interesting. 特急(Tokkyu) would be the highest order of service with the fastest Speed, as you said, the "Limited Express". Then there are also services like, 快速 (Kaisoku) or 急行(Kyuko), both rapid services used both on commuter lines but with different stopping patterns and operational priority i guess? As far as i'm aware, the 快速 is the faster service tho. The fact that 特急 can be used for both urban and interurban limited express is so confusing imo, because I would more oftent then associate it with trains that go further and faster, which the commuter trains typically don't do. Idk sometimes there seems to be an unnessasary amount of variety in service.

[@Thom-TRA]

Usually, 急行is faster than 快速. It depends per line.

[@Zakahia]

@@Thom-TRA You are right. I think the reason why i got confused is because I'm used to the word 快特 which to my knowledge is only used by Keikyu and they operate faster service than the エアポート急行 on the main line. Hence my confusion

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoyed the video👍👍

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m glad!

[@PtrkHrnk]

In my country most trains are chartered by the government from the national carrier and include categories (from slowest to fastest) such as Passenger train, Regional Express, Fast train and Express. Also in futile effort to provide faster service than Express, the national carrier runs Intercity trains, which don't stop almost anywhere, missing 2 of the 3 biggest cities enroute. No wonder almost nobody rides them...

[@philiproszak1678]

Tohoku Honsen should have some sort of Limited Express service. Traveling around Miyagi and Iwate is too expensive on the shinkansen. And the shinkansen stations aren't always convenient, especially in southern Iwate. A few days in May the 快速 仙台青葉まつり号 (Sendai Aoba Festival Rapid) is running between Sendai and Morioka. I think JR East should try running it twice a day in each direction on summer weekends. I'm sure it would get more local tourists moving. It would sure beat the highway bus. It would be really amazing if it extended from Koriyama to Morioka. And if it was scheduled so one could easily transfer to a rapid train on the Senzansen.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah I don’t always understand the JR trend to practically abandon railway lines that have a Shinkansen somewhat parallel to it. They should order a few extra E657s.

[@winkiipinkii]

I love Keikyu and their no extra cost Limited Express services, without them I'd be trundling along the painful local train from to Kurihama (Keikyu stops are sooo frequent as well). The only downside I can see with their service is that you don't know if you get the transverse seating N1000 series trains or the more traditional limited express style 2100 series trains

[@Thom-TRA]

Keikyu has some of my favorite trains in all of Japan

[@winkiipinkii]

​@@Thom-TRA understandable, the iconic aesthetic of the 600/1000/2100 series is definitely a good example of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' although I'd say the highlight of the line is the sheer amount of rolling stock variation from through running services from the Asakusa, Keisei, Hokuso/Chiba New Town lines and (if you're lucky) the Shibayama Railway

[@Thom-TRA]

@@winkiipinkii the Chiba New Town ones are my favorite to spot!

[@RyeT5]

You can for example if you go to shinagawa in around noon you can see the destination board or the announcement that says "this train have 2 doors" if its two doors then your lucky that means 2100 is coming but if it says 3 doors its either n1000 or the 600 or the 1500

[@apluto12-z3e]

I guess Brightline qualifies as a limited express. Although commuters use it, it doesn't have a separate branded commuter service.

[@nuffaildaniaelle977]

KTM skypark link is also a limited express in kl

[@_human_1946]

I wonder why Japanese railways don't automatically do the limited express surcharge. They have information on the time of the journey, how fast the journey was, and which station it was to where, which I'm pretty sure is enough information to figure out what services were taken, more-or-less. Or they could just stick fare machines onto the train doors.

[@Thom-TRA]

There’s probably too much that could go wrong with such an automatic system. Or lost revenue if people take a Ltd Exp and then linger on a platform.

[@brokeafengineerwannabe2071]

What healthy competition under a fair market does to passenger rail service

[@johnarnehansen9574]

They can always rely upon the use of thermal, and water power stations for electrification, if possible?..

[@Cupertinorail]

Wait you were on the C-train? You could have asked me to join you. Odakyu Romance car was a train you can drive in Microsoft Train simulator, although at the time 10 year old me knows nothing about operating trains and opening the doors.

[@obifox6356]

Not all RRs Limited Express have an extra fare.

[@Thom-TRA]

I literally say that in the video my guy

[@obifox6356]

@@Thom-TRA Thanks, Thom, that came after I heard you say a surcharge is required and before “Exceptions.” But, you make great videos. I have visited Japan over 109 timesnd always found time for various train trips.

[@brayand8022]

4:28 I figured.

[@visegradi]

So pretty much a intercity train?

[@Thom-TRA]

Sort of, not really

[@user-lz3ut8qp5j]

I think they are more like a mix between a commuter train and regional rail. You can ride from one city to another, or you can use it for your daily commute. They also run frequently all throughout the day.

[@brokeafengineerwannabe2071]

Tokyo, for example, is a metropolis formed from cities that have towns in them. Calling it an intercity train loses its meaning gradually over the development of the Kanto region.

[@chicagolandrailfan143]

FIRST!!!!!

[@DavidCranney-q8l]

I'm 76 yo and living in Australia. Recently I have been watching the KZbin videos of Trains Are Awesome and other enthusiasts who are passionate about trains and transport generally. Your efforts are very much appreciated by someone who has travelled on trains, trams, buses and ferries in various countries but is more of an armchair traveller these days. I have been to Japan a number of times starting in 1972 and most recently in 2015. Japan is a rail fan's paradise You Tube has allowed me to experience what I cannot see personally nowadays. The same applies to other countries. The video on the Arakawa light rail line in Tokyo reminded me that it grew out of parts of two tram lines that I saw and photographed in January 1972. These lines, routes 27 and 32, probably survived due to their extensive reserved track while the rest of Tokyo's street tramways were closed. My photos of trams in Tokyo and some other Japanese cities in 1972 are here www.flickr.com/photos/69356730@N04/page2

[@Thom-TRA]

Have you seen the Arakawa line video I posted recently? You might like it! Also, my favorite comments always come from my Australian viewers. You are always so kind.

[@DavidCranney-q8l]

@@Thom-TRA Thank you. I saw your video and rode part of the Arakawa line in 2009. Speaking of Limited Express trains, there is a commuter service between Hakata (Fukuoka) and Hakata-Minami, 8.5km operated by JR West using Shinkansen Kodama trainsets but classified as a limited express. The Shinkansen train depot is at Hakata-Minami, originally in open countryside but as suburbs developed there was demand for a commuter service and so a station was built. Even with the limited express surcharge, the fare was reasonable when I travelled. The FLIRT trains in your video look like they would be suitable for some lines in Australia with light to medium patronage.

[@brokeafengineerwannabe2071]

What healthy competition under a fair market does to passenger rail service