2020 - [WTM] Railway & Travel News

“ICOCA commuter pass” will be released between Osaka Metro and JR West

November 14, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Osaka Metro and JR West will release the “ICOCA commuter pass” from Tuesday, December 8, 2020. So far, both companies have not sold mutually usable commuter passes and had to have two separate passes. From that day, people can get on with one IC card “ICOCA”, so it seems that the convenience of commuting to work or school will increase. It will be sold between all Osaka Metro lines and the JR West urban area including Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. 19 connecting points are defined, such as JR Osaka Station – Subway Umeda, Higashi-Umeda, and Nishi-Umeda Stations. In addition to purchasing a new “ICOCA commuter pass”, you can also purchase…

New station “Kadode” opened, and Goka Station changes its name to “Gokaku” on Oigawa Railway Oigawa Line

November 12, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The local train of the Oigawa Railway Oigawa Line

Oigawa Railway (大井川鐵道) opened “Kadode Station” (門出, Shizuoka) on Thursday, November 12, 2020, which has been established between Goka Station (五和) and Kamio Station (神尾) on the Oigawa Line (大井川本線). At the new station adjacent to the experience-based food park “KADODE OOIGAWA” that opened on the same day, a tourist information center and SL Square are set up, and it is expected to play a role as an exchange base for Shimada City. A black “SL soft cream” with a steam locomotive motif is also on sale and is likely to become a hot topic. The new station is also a short distance from the Shimada-Kanaya Interchange on the Shin-Meishin…

Tokyu will also advance the schedule of last trains by the timetable revision in the spring of 2021

November 11, 2020November 22, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

In response to big changes in usage due to COVID-19, Tokyu Corporation announced that the last train of all lines (excluding Kodomonokuni Line) will be advanced by about 15 to 30 minutes due to the timetable revision in March 2021. The “new lifestyle” has taken root, and the spread of telework has reduced commuting demand, which has had a major impact on profits, and they says that it is necessary to transform the railway business into a sustainable structure. In addition to advancing the last train in order to secure more time and personnel for night work such as installing platform doors, they are also considering reviewing the number of…

One-day open tickets will be released in 2020 to commemorate “Saitama Prefectural Citizen’s Day”

November 10, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

In commemoration of “Saitama Prefectural Citizen’s Day” on Saturday, November 14, 2020, one-day open tickets that allow unlimited rides on railways in the prefecture will be sold by each railway operator. How about an autumn excursion with a great ticket? Tobu Railway Sold period: November 8 (Sun) to 14 (Sat) Validity date: November 14 (Sat) Price: Adults 480 yen, Children 240 yen Available area: Each station in Saitama prefecture Seibu Railway Sold period: November 1 (Sun) to 15 (Sun) Validity date: Valid only on the day of purchase Sold price: Adults 480 yen, Children 240 yen Available area: Each station in Saitama prefecture, Seibuen and Seibu-Yuenchi stations Chichibu Railway Sold…

Seibu Railway will advance the schedule of last trains by the timetable revision in the spring of 2021

November 9, 2020November 22, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Seibu Railway has announced the outline of the timetable revision to be carried out in the spring of 2021. The anouncement includes that the last train on major lines will be advanced by 20 to 30 minutes in order to secure time for night works. They mention that one of the reasons is that the number of passengers in the midnight hours has decreased by 50-60% due to the effects of COVID-19. From Ikebukuro Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line For Hanno: 0:09→23:52 (-17 min) For Kotesashi: 0:44→0:14 (-30 min) For Hoya: 0:45→0:18 (−27 min) From Takadanobaba Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line For Hon-Kawagoe (connecting to the last train…

Summary of railway operation updates due to COVID-19 – West Japan (as of November 6, 2020)

November 6, 2020November 22, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

We have summarized the status of updates in operation schedules of each railway operator due to COVID-19 (as of November 6, 2020, excluding in normal operation). Please check the latest operation status before using. Izu Kyuko Some local trains are canceled from evening to night. The last train will be moved up at some stations. JR Central The Tokaido Shinkansen is operated by a special timetable based on the number of passengers. Some extra “Nozomi” trains will be set up on days when a number of passengers are expected. Meitetsu Of “μ-SKY” (Meitetsu-Gifu, Shin-Unuma and Meitetsu Nagoya – Central Japan International Airport), 22 trains on weekdays and 35 on Weekends…

Summary of railway operation updates due to COVID-19 – East Japan (as of November 6, 2020)

November 6, 2020November 22, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

We have summarized the status of updates in operation schedules of each railway operator due to COVID-19 (as of November 6, 2020, excluding in normal operation). Please check the latest operation status before using. Sendai Subway The last train (extra) every Friday is canceled for the time being. Chichibu Railway Some express and local trains are canceled. All direct trains for Seibu Line are canceled. The first train will be moved down and the last train will be moved up at some stations. Hokuso Railway One “Extra Liner” (from Imba nihon-idai to Keisei-Ueno) with a seating capacity is added in the morning. JR East The limited express “Narita Express” (Omiya,…

New stations “Wutthakat” and “Nikhom Rotfai Maha Chai” opened on the SRT Maeklong Line

November 5, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) opened two new stations on the Maeklong Line (Wongwian Yai – Maha Chai) on Friday, October 23, 2020. One is the “Wutthakat” station (วุฒากาศ, Bangkok) between Talat Phlu Station (ตลาดพลู) and Clone Tonsai Station (คลองต้นไทร). It is located along Ratchapuruk Road (ถนน ราชพฤกษ์) about 150m from Wutthakat Station (S11) on the BTS Skytrain Silom Line, you can easily access downtown Bangkok by changing trains. The other is “Nikhom Rotfai Maha Chai” Station (นิคมรถไฟมหาชัย, Samut Sakhon) between Clonechuck Station (คลองจาก) and Maha Chai Station (มหาชัย). It is located next to Maha Chai Station which is famous for trains slipping into the market, and is close…

New station “Kintore” opened between Dyce and Inverurie in Scotland

November 5, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

On Thursday, October 15, 2020, the National Rail opened a new station, “Kintore” Station (Aberdeenshire), which has been established between Dyce Station (Aberdeen City) and Inverurie Station (Aberdeenshire). The ScotRail trains call. It was opened due to double-tracking work to strengthen the transportation capacity the section between Aberdeen Station (Aberdeen city) and Inverurie Station, of the Aberdeen – Inverness line to which this station belongs.

Changed the boundary between JR Shikoku and Asa Seaside Railway from Kaifu Station to Awa-Kainan Station

November 2, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

On Sunday, November 1, 2020, JR Shikoku and Asa Seaside Railway changed the boundary station between the two companies from Kaifu Station (Tokushima) to Awa-Kainan Station (Tokushima). As a result, the section between Kaifu Station and Awa-Kainan Station on the JR Mugi Line has been incorporated into the Asa-to Line of Asa Seaside Railway. That is due to the fact that the Asa Seaside Railway, which operates between Kaifu Station and Kannoura Station (Kochi), plans to introduce a DMV (Dual Mode Vehicle) by March 2021. The DMV is the world’s first transportation system equipped with both rubber tires and railroad bogies, capable of running on both railroads and roads. The…