Tag - rail

 
 

RAIL

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during the signing of the Rasht-Astara railway agreement in May 2023.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 18, 2024
New 'sanctions-proof' transport routes put Russia at heart of global trade
Shipping and rail networks via Iran and an Arctic sea passage could strengthen Moscow’s pivot toward China and India and away from Europe.
A Tokaido shinkansen. It is unclear whether the snake was venomous or how it ended up on the train, and there was no injury or panic among passengers.
JAPAN
Apr 17, 2024
Snake on a train: Discovery of serpent delays Tokyo-Nagoya shinkansen
Shinkansen customers can bring small dogs, cats and other animals, including pigeons on board — but not snakes.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo in May 2022.
JAPAN
Apr 9, 2024
Biden and Kishida likely to discuss Texas bullet train project, sources say
The leaders may publicly voice support for the multi-billion-dollar Texas project after Wednesday's talks.
With the resignation of Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu, a major hurdle may have been removed in the construction of the maglev high-speed train, which is expected to connect Tokyo to Osaka in just over 60 minutes.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 5, 2024
Maglev train is back on track after Shizuoka governor's derailing
Shizuoka's governor was blocking the construction of Japan's maglev bullet train. Now that he has resigned, the project can finally move at full speed.
The Noto Tetsudo railway resumed operations on Saturday. The railway stretches over 33.1 kilometers, connecting Nanao and Anamizu stations.
JAPAN
Apr 6, 2024
Quake-hit railway in Noto fully reopens after three months
The first train of the day departed from Anamizu Station adorned with a sticker that read: "Ganbaro Noto" (Let's go Noto).
Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu apologizes for his gaffe at a news conference in Shizuoka on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 3, 2024
Shizuoka governor's resignation may remove hurdle for maglev project
Heita Kawakatsu has long opposed the construction of a tunnel in the prefecture for the next-generation shinkansen, citing environmental concerns.
JR Tokai President Shunsuke Niwa speaks to reporters after meeting with transport ministry officials on Friday.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2024
JR Tokai gives up on 2027 maglev target date for opening
JR Tokai gave up the 2027 goal as the Shizuoka Prefectural Government has declined to approve tunnel drilling work due to environmental concerns.
The 8620-class steam locomotive was manufactured in 1922 during Japan's Taisho Era (1912-1926).
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 30, 2024
One last journey for Japan's oldest steam train
Japan's 101-year-old steam locomotive has made its final journey, thought it may live on as a museum piece in the future.
Shizue Takahashi, a bereaved family member of the 1995 sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system, offers a prayer at Kasumigaseki Station on Wednesday, the 29th anniversary of the attack.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 20, 2024
Japan marks 29th anniversary of Tokyo subway sarin attack
The Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult's sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system killed 14 people and injured more than 6,000.
The Thunderbird limited express train
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2024
Woman and baby daughter hit by train in apparent murder-suicide
The police said that relatives of the woman had told them she was having problems raising her daughter.
The 125-kilometer section from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga in Fukui, which opened Saturday, adds six new stations to the Hokuriku Shinkansen line.
JAPAN
Mar 16, 2024
Hokuriku Shinkansen extension opens, buoying tourism hopes for Fukui
The extension brings shinkansen services to Fukui Prefecture for the first time.
Made by Karimoku, Keiji Ashikawa’s design of the JAL Boeing 777 cabin window stool uses an outer window pane from the plane as a transparent seat set on a base comprising recycled oak off-cuts.
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Mar 16, 2024
Recycling old JAL planes and bullet trains into design treasures
This month, On: Design looks at recycled products designed to rev the engines of plane and train enthusiasts.
An extended section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line will open on Saturday to connect the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and the city of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture.
JAPAN
Mar 14, 2024
Hokuriku Shinkansen's Kanazawa-Tsuruga extension set to open Saturday
The opening of the new section is expected to contribute to reconstruction efforts in the Hokuriku region in central Japan.
A woman uses a transparent translation screen covering 12 languages as a station employee looks on at the Oedo Line's Tochomae Station in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on Feb. 29.
JAPAN / Society
Mar 9, 2024
Tokyo subway installs clear translation screen ahead of 2025 events
The system is equipped with a keyboard translates between Japanese and English, Chinese, Spanish and other languages.
Hankyu's new PRiVACE carriages will feature spacious seats arranged in three rows, equipped with partitions, reading lights, and power sockets.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 27, 2024
Hankyu railway to launch new premium seat service on Kyoto Line
The new PRiVACE carriages will feature spacious seats arranged in three rows, equipped with partitions, reading lights, and power sockets.
A maglev train tunnel work site in Kawasaki is shown to the media on Jan. 15, ahead of full-fledged drilling beginning around September.
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2024
Maglev train project being derailed by Shizuoka stalemate
Shizuoka's governor has pushed back over environmental issues, including the effects of construction on the Oi River.
Sun simulation at the Rail Tec Arsenal facility in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 15, 2023
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Feb 16, 2024
Climate change threatens EU trains, but resilience is expensive
Europe’s railways, a safe, low-carbon technology that still carries a little glamor, are on the brink of a new era.
Tobu Railway started testing biofuel for its coal-fired and diesel-powered locomotives in the tourist area of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, with the aim of cutting carbon dioxide emissions.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2024
Biofuel tested for coal-fired steam locomotives in eastern Japan
The company said it expects to reduce about 150 tons of emissions per year, the same amount emitted by around 50 households.
A railway crossing in Japan. A railway crossing gate in Osaka city opened before a train passed through on Tuesday, scraping a car that had proceeded to cross.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 7, 2024
Train scrapes car in Osaka after railway crossing gate opens prematurely
No one was hurt in the incident, which was caused by stray bolts causing a malfunction of a system that detects approaching trains.
Ukrainian Railway trains at the central railway station of Kyiv on Sunday
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2024
Ukrainian Railways to buy rails from Nippon Steel
Nippon Steel plans to deliver about 15,000 metric tons of rails in summer and 7,500 metric tons next year.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on