Romancecar
Encyclopedia
Odakyu Electric Railway
, or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone....
's name for its limited express
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
luxury tourist services south-west of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, to mountain resorts such as Gotenba and Hakone, and beaches such as Numazu and Enoshima
Enoshima
is a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge...
. Service started in 1957 with the 3000 series SE
Odakyu 3000 series SE
The or SE , later becoming SSE , was a "Romancecar" EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan...
trainset, it broke the world speed record (145 km/h (90 mph)) for a narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
train. This record gave impetus for the design of the first Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
, the 0 Series
0 Series Shinkansen
The trains were the first Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's new Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964. The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008.-History:...
. The 50th anniversary of the Romancecar's narrow gauge world speed record was celebrated September 28, 2007. Some of the latest designs incorporate regenerative braking.
Name origin
The name comes from romance seats, two-person seats without separating armrests when one-person seats were a norm. Some Romancecars are equipped with standard seats featuring armrests. Other railroad companies also used "romance cars" or "romance seats" (a Japanese portmanteauWasei-eigo
are Japanese pseudo-Anglicisms: English constructions not used in the English-speaking world or by native English speakers, but that appear in Japanese. This should not be confused for foreign words gairaigo, which generally refer to words from European languages, especially American English...
for "loveseat") for their special accommodation passenger cars, but Odakyū holds the trademark for the term "Romancecar".
Service
- Hakone and Super Hakone service between ShinjukuShinjuku Stationis a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
and Hakone YumotoHakone-Yumoto Stationis a railway station on the Hakone Tozan Line located in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is 6.1 rail kilometers from the line’s terminus at Odawara Station.-History:...
(on Hakone Tozan Line, terminal station for visiting Hakone mountains and springs) - Metro Hakone service between Hakone-Yumoto and Kita-SenjuKita-Senju Stationis a railway station in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan.Kita-Senju is the second-busiest station on the Tobu Railway and Tokyo Metro networks...
(in north-east of Tokyo) (direct through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line from Yoyogi-UeharaYoyogi-Uehara Stationis a railway station on the Odakyū Odawara and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda lines located in Shibuya, Tokyo. The Tokyo Metro station number is C-01. The station was opened as a stop on the Odakyū Odawara Line on April 1, 1927; Eidan began service at the station on March 31, 1978.Both lines share platforms...
) - Enoshima service between Shinjuku and Katase EnoshimaKatase-Enoshima Stationis the southern terminal station of the Odakyu Enoshima Line, located in the city of Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan. It is 59.9 rail kilometers from the northern terminus of the Odakyu Railway at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo...
(in Fujisawa, KanagawaFujisawa, Kanagawais a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 407,731 and a population density of 5,870 people per km². The total area is 69.51 km²-Geography:... - Asagiri service between Shinjuku and NumazuNumazu Stationis an interchange railway station on the Tōkaidō Main Line of Central Japan Railway Company in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The station is 126.2 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station.- Station history:...
on Central Japan Railway CompanyCentral Japan Railway CompanyThe is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
Gotenba Line (direct through service to this line near Matsuda StationMatsuda Stationis a station on the Gotemba Line of Central Japan Railway Company located in southern portion of the town of Matsuda in Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan...
, a station parallel to Shin-Matsuda StationShin-Matsuda Stationis a railway station on the Odakyu Electric Railway’s Odakyu Odawara Line in the town of Matsuda, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The station is 71.8 rail kilometers from the line’s terminal at Shinjuku Station...
) - Sagami service between Shinjuku and Odawara StationOdawara Station) is a railway station in Odawara, Kanagawa, Japan.- Lines :This station is served by following lines.*East Japan Railway Company**Tōkaidō Line**Shōnan-Shinjuku Line*Central Japan Railway Company**Tōkaidō Shinkansen*Odakyu Electric Railway...
(in Odawara, KanagawaOdawara, Kanagawais a city located in western Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 198,466 with a population density of 1,740 persons per km² . The total area was .-Geography:...
) - Homeway trains outbound from Shinjuku for Hakone-Yumoto, Katase-Enoshima and KarakidaKarakida Stationis the station of Odakyū Tama Line in Tama, Tokyo, Japan.-Station layout:The station has one side platform with one track and one island platform with two tracks.-Service pattern:Trains operate 0510-0010 every day....
(in Tama New TownTama New Townis a large residential development, straddling the municipalities of Hachiōji, Tama, Inagi and Machida cities, in Tokyo, Japan. It was designed as a new town in 1965...
area, south-west of Tokyo) after 6 p.m. - Metro Sagami service between Hon-AtsugiHon-Atsugi Stationis a major stop on the Odakyu Electric Railway’s Odawara Line serving the city of Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The station is 45.5 rail kilometers from the line’s terminal at Shinjuku Station. Most local, section semi-express, and semi-express trains inbound from Shinjuku Station...
(in the west of the Atsugi city in Kanagawa PrefectureKanagawa Prefectureis a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...
) and Kita-Senju (direct through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line from Yoyogi-Uehara) - Metro Homeway service between Karakida and Kita-Senju (direct through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line from Yoyogi-Uehara)
- Bay Resort service between Hon-Atsugi and Shin-KibaShin-Kiba Stationis a railway station in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan.-Lines:Shin-Kiba Station is served by the following lines:* Keiyō Line * Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line * Rinkai Line -JR East platforms:-Tokyo Metro platforms:...
(south-east of Tokyo) (direct through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line from Yoyogi-Uehara, and direct through service to the Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō LineTokyo Metro Yurakucho LineThe is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line connects Wakōshi Station in Wakō, Saitama and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō, Tokyo. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color "gold" , and its stations are given numbers using the letter Y.The proper name as...
from KasumigasekiKasumigaseki Station (Tokyo)is a Tokyo Metro station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, serving the Kasumigaseki government district.- History :* October 15, 1958 Marunouchi Line station opens.* March 25, 1964 Hibiya Line station opens.* March 20, 1971 Chiyoda Line station opens....
)
These are classified as tokkyū (limited express
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
) services, requiring limited express tickets and seat reservations. Bento
Bento
is a single-portion takeout or home-packed meal common in Japanese cuisine. A traditional bento consists of rice, fish or meat, and one or more pickled or cooked vegetables, usually in a box-shaped container. Containers range from disposable mass produced to hand crafted lacquerware...
meals are available on the train.
Trainset evolution
- Odakyū 3000 series SEOdakyu 3000 series SEThe or SE , later becoming SSE , was a "Romancecar" EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan...
: These pioneering rapid rail trains were introduced in 1957 and commonly used until 1968; one was used until 1991. They set the world speed record for narrow gauge track in September 1957 at 145 km/h and were an inspiration for the world's first high speed trainHigh Speed TrainThere are three types of trains in Britain that have been traditionally viewed as high speed trains:* Advanced Passenger Train - Tilting trains which never entered into regular revenue-earning service....
, the ShinkansenShinkansenThe , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
. They later earned Japan's Blue Ribbon design award. The 8-car trains could seat 354 people. - Odakyū 3100 series NSEOdakyu 3100 series NSEThe or NSE electric multiple unit was used on the Odakyu Electric Railway, in the Tokyo area of Japan.It was in service from 1963 to 2000....
: A taller, upgraded version of the 3000 series, it was used from 1963-1999. The 3100 series was the longest Romancecar in common service and gave it its distinctive look. The Nagoya RailroadNagoya Railroad, often abbreviated as , is a railroad company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.Some of the more famous trains operated by Nagoya Railroad include the Panorama Car and the Panorama Car Super, both of which offer views through their wide front windows...
Panorama CarPanorama Caris a trainset series operated by Nagoya Railroad, including the . Like the Romancecar trains of Odakyu Electric Railway, they are designed to be tourist oriented limited express trains, although they also operate on services....
design was based on the 3100 series. The 11-car trainset could seat 464 people, and had a maximum design speed of 170 km/h. - Odakyū 7000 series LSEOdakyu 7000 series LSEThe or LSE EMU is used on the Odakyu Electric Railway since 1980 in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Operations:The 7000 LSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station ....
: Entering service in 1980, it has a 180-degree front view of scenery. It has seating for 464 people in 11 cars—identical to the 3100 series. It was manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industriesis an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
. - Odakyū 10000 series HiSEOdakyu 10000 series HiSEThe EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Lines used:The 10000 HiSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station .-Transfer:...
: Introduced in 1988, like its predecessor, 7000 series LSEOdakyu 7000 series LSEThe or LSE EMU is used on the Odakyu Electric Railway since 1980 in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Operations:The 7000 LSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station ....
, these two types are very closely related, and were once the top grade of Romancecar service, but with larger seats than the 7000. Like the VSE, the driver's compartment is elevated so that passengers at the front of the train have an unimpeded 180 degree view of the scenery. These trains are used for Hakone services, plying the same route as the VSE but stopping more often; the trip to Hakone takes about 90 minutes. Cabin attendants are available for food and drink service, except in the evening. - Odakyū 20000 series RSEOdakyu 20000 series RSEThe Odakyū 20000 series RSE is an electric multiple unit train type operated by Odakyu Electric Railway on Asagiri limited express services in Japan.-Operations:...
: Introduced in 1992, they are mainly used for Asagiri service to Gotemba, where they alternate with the very similar JR Central 371 series371 seriesThe is an electric multiple unit train operated by Central Japan Railway Company on Asagiri limited express services in Japan since 1991.-Operations:...
. They are the only Odakyū trains with first-class seating in "semi-compartments" on the upper deck of two bi-level cars in the center of each train. It is the first in the series to break from the traditional wine red color, being baby blue. - Odakyū 30000 series EXE: Introduced in 1996, these currently operate most Romancecar services. Most are equipped with vending machines on board, and some also have cabin attendants. They are boxy and metallic bronze in color.
- Odakyū 50000 series VSEOdakyu 50000 series VSEThe or VSE is an electric multiple unit operated by Odakyu Electric Railway on Romancecar services in Japan. Two 10-car articulated sets were introduced in March 2005, manufactured by Nippon Sharyo....
: Introduced in 2005, the white VSE is the newest and most comfortable Odakyū train, with the driver's compartment elevated over the cabin as with the HiSE. VSE trains are primarily used for Super Hakone services and have cabin attendants who bring food, drinks, and on-board shopping to each passenger's seat during the 80-minute run to Hakone. There are also two cars with café spaces, leading to the VSE's reputation as a . There are seats for 358 people. - Odakyū 60000 series MSEOdakyu 60000 series MSEThe is a Romancecar EMU manufactured by Nippon Sharyo for Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan. Two 6-car sets and one 4-car set were ordered in September 2006, with the first 6-car set delivered in October 2007. The trains entered service on 15 March 2008, used on Odakyū through service to the Tokyo...
: The 60000 series entered service in March 2008 and was the first Romancecar to be used on through services on the Tokyo MetroTokyo Metrois one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Toei. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.-Organization:...
Chiyoda Line.