Regional private railways plagued by severe financial conditions due to the falling birthrate and the popularity of automobiles are revamping and decorating secondhand cars from Keio Corp. and other major lines to curb costs and attract tourists.
Fuji Kyuko Co. in Yamanashi Prefecture started operating a retro-style two-car train, remodeled from Keio 5,000-type cars, at the foot of Mount Fuji on Aug. 9.
The vermilion cars with wood floors, old-style seats and circular windows were designed by Eiji Mitooka, who also designed the cars of Kyushu bullet trains. "I would like passengers to reacquaint themselves with the charm of Mount Fuji by looking at it through the windows of this train."