International Railroad Discussion > Tokyo rail train rides

A few scenes near Tabata, in Tokyo ...on a recent visit there , on the Yamanote Loop route

always an interesting experience for the railfan

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Most Cool.Sounds reminds me of BART in San Farn.
Regards,DK

Just amazing at the lack of trash on the right of way, even in the construction zones.

Are the trains seperate companies, or a nationialized group? Is the a good rr map to see?. Great video, and it proves that cantary supports do not have to be ugly like to ones being built in England.

is this map what you may be interested in...?


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> Are the trains seperate companies, or a
> nationialized group? Is the a good rr map to see?.
> Great video, and it proves that cantary supports
> do not have to be ugly like to ones being built in
> England.

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great video and very interesting how crowded and long those platforms were.  thanks for posting........

66

DKay Wrote:
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> Most Cool.Sounds reminds me of BART in San Farn.
> Regards,DK

They have something in common. VVVF, or Variable Voltage Variage Frequency traction motors are used on the train sets. Shinkansen Series 500 sets sound even more similar to BART trains.

Thanks for posting the map!

Former government-ran JNR (Japan National Railways) got split up and privatized in 1987, and two groups provide services in the Tokyo Metropolitan area, JR East (East Japan Railway Co.) and JR Central (a.k.a. JR Tokai).

JR East run at least 12 separate lines within Tokyo, and JR Central run one, the Tokaido Line. That's not including the Shinkansens. JR East run 3 high speed lines (Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku), and JR Central one (Tokaido Shinkansen). Akita and Yamagata Shinkansens are part of Tohoku, so it's also acceptable to say there are 6 total high speed lines into Tokyo.

Outside the former-JNR, there are at least seven separate railroad companies that has remained profitable for several decades, and escaped the "nationalization" of railroads that happened in 1949: Seibu, Tokyu, Keio, Odakyu, Keisei, Keikyu, and Tobu. Each company runs several lines, so they control more than two dozen separate lines within Tokyo. That includes the Tokyu Setagaya Line, which is essentially one of the two streetcar lines in Tokyo.

In addition, there are two subway organizations in Tokyo: Tokyo Metro (formerly called Eidan Group) which is a profitable corporation, and Toei, which is subsidized by Tokyo city government. These two organizations run 13 subway lines within Tokyo. FYI, Toei controls the other streetcar line within Tokyo, the Toden Arakawa Line (not part of the 13 subway lines).

One web site I found says there are 62 separate lines in Tokyo, but excluding the Shinkansens, it's in the 50s range.

It doesn't end there. Subway lines have track sharing agreements with both JR and all of the seven railroad companies, so you can find "foreign" train sets on many lines - for example, Keikyu's train set will run on Keisei's lines and vice versa, and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line sets can be found on both JR (Joban Line) and Odakyu lines - just two of many, many examples. One seat ride, anyone?

Your video clips only include the JR East trains, and I mention it for the other TO members. Enjoyed watching them!
 

bakersfielddave Wrote:
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> is this map what you may be interested in...?
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Are the trains seperate companies, or a
> > nationialized group? Is the a good rr map to
> see?.
> > Great video, and it proves that cantary
> supports
> > do not have to be ugly like to ones being built
> in
> > England.

Never saw the platform loading gates before.
Ought to do that on this side of the pond or have they?