Marine Liner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Marine Liner
The Marine Liner #37 service to Takamatsu passes Sanuki-Fuchu station on Shikoku. Leading the way is a JR Shikoku 5000 series bi-level cab car.
Service type Rapid
Operator JR West, JR Shikoku
Line used Seto-Ohashi Line
Started 1988
Rolling stock 223-5000 series EMUs

The Marine Liner (マリンライナー?) is the name of a train service in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). The Marine Liner links Okayama, the capital city of Okayama Prefecture and a major station on the Sanyō Shinkansen, with Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, via the Great Seto Bridge. At a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), the journey takes approximately 55-60 minutes.

Since 2003, the Marine Liner has been operated by JR West 223-5000 series EMU trainsets. The first car on most Takamatsu-bound trains is a JR Shikoku 5000 series bi-level cab car with reserved seating. Previously, 213 series EMUs were used.

From Okayama to Takamatsu, all Marine Liner trains stop at Chayamachi, Kojima and Sakaide. Most trains also stop at either Senoo or Hayashima, or both. Some early morning and late evening trains make additional stops at intermittent stations on the Seto-Ohashi and Yosan lines.

As it is classified as a rapid service (快速 kaisoku?), a standard fare is charged for using the Marine Liner. It currently takes about one hour to cover the entire journey at a cost of ¥1,470 each way. A passenger may upgrade to reserved seating for an additional ¥510 and ¥950 each way, for the bottom (ordinary reserved) and top (green car/first class reserved) levels of the bi-level train car, respectively. There is a ¥200 discount on ordinary reserved seating during off-peak seasons.

A crew change for the train driver and conductor occurs at Kojima, a boundary station between the two operating railways.

[edit] Route

Side view of Marine Liner 5000 series bilevel car at Takamatsu Station, May 2007
Side view of Marine Liner 5000 series bilevel car at Takamatsu Station, May 2007

The Marine Liner runs over two sections known collectively as the Seto-Ohashi Line. The Okayama-Kojima section is operated by JR West1, and the Kojima-Takamatsu section is operated by JR Shikoku2.

1Portions run over the JR Uno Line
2Portions run over the JR Yosan Line

[edit] Stations

[edit] Marine Liner stopping patterns (as of December 2006)

Key
■ All trains stop
▲ Most trains stop
♦ Few trains stop
—- Pass/No trains stop

Station Service
Okayama
(岡山)
Omoto
(大元)
Bizen-Nishiichi
(備前西市)
Senoo
(妹尾)
Bitchu-Mishima
(備中箕島)
—-
Hayashima
(早島)
Kuguhara
(久々原)
—-
Chayamachi
(茶屋町)
Uematsu
(植松)
Kimi
(木見)
Kaminocho
(上の町)
Kojima
(児島)
Great Seto Bridge
(瀬戸大橋)
Sakaide
(坂出)
Yasoba
(八十場)
—-
Kamogawa
(鴨川)
Sanuki-Fuchu
(讃岐府中)
—-
Kokubu
(国分)
Hashioka
(端岡)
Kinashi
(鬼無)
Kozai
(香西)
—-
Takamatsu
(高松)


Languages