Hyogo - [WTM] Railway & Travel News

To end cable car and lift service near Osaka – Nose Railway withdraws from Mt. Myoken

June 29, 2023June 28, 2023 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Nose Electric Railway (Noseden)Regarding the cable car operating under the Railway Business Act, Noseden submitted a notification of abolition to the Kinki District Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on June 23, 2023 (Fri). has decided to terminate the “Myoken no Mori related business” that has been developed since 1960 on Mt. Myoken on the border of Hyogo and Osaka Prefectures.

New tourist train creates “a special journey” – JR West will start in 2024 from Hokuriku

November 28, 2022November 14, 2022 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR West will introduce a new tourist train, which is a remodeled KIHA 189 series express diesel railcar, and will operate on routes that change line sections according to the season from the fall of 2024.

Japan finally relaxed COVID-19 border measures – No testing, but vaccination required

October 17, 2022November 8, 2022 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

In order to resume international traffic of people, the Japanese government has relaxed border measures related to COVID-19 and started operation from Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

“Business Booth” allows meeting on the train – Trial on Tokaido & San-yo Shinkansen

April 15, 2022April 13, 2022 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

JR Central and JR West will introduce the “business booth” on a trial basis inside the Tokaido & San-yo Shinkansen to further enhance the telework environment before and after moving by trains.

“WEST EXPRESS GINGA” – New long-distance train starts running to the San-yo area

December 18, 2020December 17, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Kanmon Straits and Kanmon Bridge seen from the Karato Market in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi ©Katsumi

JR West’s new long-distance train “WEST EXPRESS Ginga” operates a daytime route connecting the Kansai and San-yo areas from December 2020 to March 2021.

Hankyu & Noseden do not operate all night on New Year’s Eve – Extra trains until 2 am

December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Hankyu Kyoto Line 9300 series trains passing each other

Hankyu Railway and Nose Electric Railway announced that they will not operate all night from December 31, 2020 (Thursday) New Year’s Eve to January 1, 2021 (Friday / holiday) New Year’s morning, and will operate extra trains until around 2:00 midnight.

“K Computer Mae” on the Port Liner will change its station name in June 2021

November 17, 2020November 17, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Kobe New Transit announced that they will change the station name of “K Computer Mae Station (Kobe Animal Kingdom)” on the Port Island Line in June 2021.

“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…

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…

Hokushin Kyūkō Railway was municipalized and started operating as the Kobe City Subway Hokushin Line

June 1, 2020November 15, 2020 横山勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

The Kobe Municipal Transportation Bureau took over the Hokushin Kyūkō Line (北神急行線, between Tanigami <谷上> and Shin-Kōbe <新神戸> Stations) that was operated by the private company Hokushin Kyūkō Railway from the Hankyu Railway Group, and started business as the Kobe Subway Hokushin Line (神戸市営地下鉄北神線) on June 1, 2020. As before, the trains will continue to run from Tanigami Station to Seishin-chūō Station on the Seishin-Yamate Line. This is the first case in Japan that a private railway has been municipalized. Fares have been reduced across all lines, for example, the normal fare from Tanigami Station to Sannomiya Station was revised from 550 yen to 280 yen, which is about half…