Romancecar
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The Romancecar (ロマンスカー Romansukā?) is Odakyu Electric Railway's name for its limited express tourist/luxury services south-west of Tōkyō, to mountain resorts such as Gotenba and Hakone, and beaches such as Numazu and Enoshima. Service first started in 1957 with the 3000 series SE trainset, which attained the world speed record at the time (145 km/h/90 mph) for a narrow gauge train. This record gave impetus for the design of the first Shinkansen, the 0 Series. The 50th anniversary of the Romancecar's narrow gauge world speed record was celebrated September 28, 2007.[1] Some of the latest designs have incorporated regenerative braking such as found in hybrid cars.
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[edit] Name origin
The name comes from romance seats, two-person seats without separating armrests when one-person seats were a norm. Some of the romancecars are equipped with standard seats featuring armrests. Other railroad companies also used "Romance Car" or "Romance Seat" (it's a Wasei-eigo (Japanese-English) word for "love seat") for their special accommodation passenger cars, but Odakyū holds the trademark rights of "Romancecar" name.
[edit] Service
Odakyū currently operates several Romancecar services:
- Hakone and Super Hakone service between Shinjuku and Hakone Yumoto (on Hakone Tozan Line, terminal station for visiting Hakone mountains and springs).
- Enoshima service between Shinjuku and Katase Enoshima (in Fujisawa, Kanagawa, opposite side from Enoshima Island).
- Asagiri service between Shinjuku and Numazu (as Numazu, Shizuoka, on Central Japan Railway Company Gotenba Line).
- Sagami service between Shinjuku and Odawara Station (in Odawara, Kanagawa), and
- Homeway trains outbound from Shinjuku for Hakone-Yumoto, Katase-Enoshima and Karakida (in Tama New Town area, south-west of Tokyo) after 6 p.m.
As they are considered "tokkyu", extra must be paid for limited express tickets. In addition, a seat ticket must be bought if you want to sit. In practice, most people buy both at the same time. Bento meals are available on the train, but do not come cheap.
[edit] Trainset evolution
For more pictures of the trains below, see Japanese version
- Odakyū 3000 series SE pioneering rapid rail trains were introduced in 1957, 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 rail, Shinkansen. They have since earned Japan's Blue Ribbon award. The 8-car trains could seat 354 people.
- Odakyū 3100 series NSE, a taller upgraded version of the 3000 series, was used from 1963-1999, which gave the Romance Car its distinctive look, and was the longest Romance Car in common service. The Nagoya Railroad Panoramacar design was fashioned 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 LSE, first entered service in 1980, it has a 180-degree front view of scenery. It also has seating for 464 people with 11 cars, identical to 3100 in this respect. It was manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
- Odakyū 10000 series HiSE, introduced in 1988, like its predecessor, 7000 series LSE, 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 currently used for Hakone service, 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 RSE: Introduced in 1992, are mainly used for Asagiri (resort super express) service to Gotenba, where they alternate with the very similar JR Central 371 series. They are the only Odakyū trains with first-class seating, located 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 in color.
- 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 VSE: Introduced in 2005, the newest and most comfortable Odakyu train, with the driver's compartment elevated over the cabin so as to allow front-row passengers a full view of the railway ahead. VSE trains are primarily used for Super Hakone service, and have cabin attendants who bring food, drinks, and on-board shopping to each passenger's seat during the 80-minute run to Hakone. Seats 358 people, white color.
- Odakyū 60000 series MSE due to enter service in 2008, and the first to be used on through services over the Tokyo Metro subway.
[edit] References
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