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The member companies of Japan Railways are constantly improving rail service for their millions of passengers by introducing new amenities on trains, increasing service, adding new facilities in stations and expanding information for travelers. In addition JR is always working to make the rail system responsive to the ecological and energy needs of a new century. Read below for some of the changes that may make your rail travel in Japan even more convenient and comfortable.
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Past News: January - March 2008
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Mar 19, 2008 - JR HOKKAIDO: NEW FLEXIBLE 4-DAY HOKKAIDO RAIL PASS |
In time to greet the arrival of spring on Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) will be introducing a new version of the Hokkaido Rail Pass. The new ‘Flexible 4-Day Hokkaido Rail Pass’ allows unlimited travel on any 4 days within a 10 day period. It costs 18,000 yen for Ordinary (coach) or 25,000 yen for Green (first class). As with the existing 3 and 5 consecutive-day passes, the Flexible 4-Day Pass covers all JR Hokkaido trains throughout this scenic island. Seat reservations in the appropriate class are included without additional charge. All JR Hokkaido passes can be purchased as an exchange voucher overseas, or after arrival in Hokkaido. This new pass will allow visitors greater flexibility to enjoy rail travel during a longer stay on the island.
> See details (JR Hokkaido page)
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Mar 4, 2008 - JR EAST: NEW OVERSEAS RESERVATION SYSTEM TO BEGIN IN MARCH |
On March 25, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will open its new internet reservation system called JR-EAST Shinkansen Reservation. This system will allow visitors from overseas to make reservations on many JR East long-distance rail lines before coming to Japan. It will cover all JR East Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’ (Tohoku, Akita, Yamagata, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen Lines) from Tokyo to important cities such as Sendai, Morioka, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano etc. Travelers will also be able to reserve some JR East Limited Express trains to other popular spots such as the Izu Peninsula, the castle town of Matsumoto in the Japan Alps, and the corporate city of Hitachi.
When reserving on this system travelers will have to register, free of charge, with a credit card. They can then reserve full-price seats in Ordinary (coach) or Green (first class). Holders of the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass vouchers can also reserve on this site; seat reservations are free with these rail passes. Reservations can be made within one month to three days prior to the desired date of travel. The user will receive an e-mail confirmation and must pick up the reserved seat tickets by 9:00 p.m. (Japan Time) on the day prior to the reserved date.
Please note that this system will allow reservations only on trains operated by the East Japan Railway Company. The Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and beyond is not operated by JR East and cannot be reserved.
> See more information (JR East page) |
Feb 27, 2008 - JR WEST & JR KYUSHU: DIRECT SHINKANSEN SERVICE BETWEEN OSAKA AND KAGOSHIMA SCHEDULED FOR 2011 |
West Japan Railway Company (JR West) has announced its plans to produce an eight-car prototype train set by this autumn, based on the Series N700. The new train set will run with maximum speed 300km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen line and 260km/h on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
JR West and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) are planning through service for 2011 when the final Shinkansen link is completed between Fukuoka and Yatsushiro (130km) in Kyushu. Traveling time from Osaka to Kumamoto will be about 3 hours 20 minutes, and all the way to Kagoshima at the tip of southern Kyushu roughly 4 hours. At present it takes more than 5 hours from Osaka to Kagoshima with two changes of trains. The new service will also allow travel from Tokyo to Kagoshima in less than 7 hours with only one change of train at Shin-Osaka.
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| Jan 11, 2008 - JR EAST: DEMONSTRATION EXPERIMENT OF THE “POWER-GENERATING FLOOR” AT TOKYO STATION |
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is presently researching and developing comfortable, safe, and environmentally friendly station space. Foremost consideration is being given to both the environment and the energy saving at stations. JR East is jointly working on the development of the “power-generating floor” together with ‘New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’ and ‘JR East Consultants Company’.
Building on last year’s experiment, we are planning to conduct a demonstration experiment of the ”power-generating floor” (currently being developed) at Tokyo Station to confirm the increase in electrical production capability and the durability of the current floor. JR East will also continue with our research and development, aiming to achieve further energy-saving facilities for stations.
> See details [PDF/81KB] |
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