The design of the new train cars to be introduced was decided at a meeting of local governments along the Toyama Prefecture local lines to discuss the revitalization of the Johana Line and Himi Line.
The two lines, which have been certified by the national government as railway business restructuring, will be transferred from the current JR West to the third-sector Ainokaze Toyama Railway around 2029. Prior to this, it has been decided that new hybrid diesel railcars with excellent environmental performance, ride comfort, and speed will be manufactured to replace the currently operating Kiha 40 and 47 series.
The Reconstruction Council, which includes the prefecture and the four cities along the lines, Takaoka, Himi, Tonami, and Nanto, adopted the design by designer Keita Suzuki at a meeting on May 16 (Friday), 2025, for the new train cars that they had been considering. The overlapping elements of tradition and future, sea and mountains, everyday life and tourism are incorporated into the concept of “KASANE,” and are expressed in the interior and exterior of the train cars and the symbol mark.
The front of the train features a three-dimensional, innovative design that symbolizes the line that connects the sea and the mountains, and the sides are decorated with a large gradation of blue and green that blends in with the natural scenery along the line. Bright, warm wood grain is used extensively on the ceiling and floor of the train, and the rich green that spreads outside the windows is incorporated into the color of the seats, creating a sense of unity between the inside and outside of the train. The use of round windows for the boarding and alighting doors is also unique.
Suzuki is active in a wide range of fields as a product designer, and his track record in railway vehicles includes the Laurel Prize-winning 20000 series of Sagami Railway (Sotetsu). The conference’s selection team highly praised Suzuki’s innovative and timeless design, which symbolically captures the history and natural environment along the Johana Line and Himi Line, and looks forward to his future success.
