JAPAN | Urban Transport Compilation

[quashlo]

Keikyū CD sells over 10,000
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainme...OYT1T00007.htm

Sales of a CD containing eki-melo (station melodies) used at Keikyū Electric Railway (HQ: Tōkyō) station platforms have sold over 10,000 copies in about a month and a half, surpassing the expectations of both Keikyū and the CD producer.

Eki-melo have garnered popularity outside the railfan world because passengers commuting daily to work and school become intimately familiar with the tunes.

The CD, Keikyū Eki-melody Original (¥1500), was released on March 18. Beginning last year, Keikyū has used eki-melo at 17 stations, including songs such as Ue wo Muite Arukō and Yume de Aetara, which were selected in public submission contests. The CD itself contains thirty songs from these 17 stations, including “sound effects” such as the sound trains make when running along curves. The sound of trains with German-made controllers, which sound like “do-re-mi” musical scales, is one of the showpieces of the CD.

The CD’s producer, Universal Music (HQ: Tōkyō), originally shipped 700 copies primarily aimed at railfans. But when one store after another began to sell out and copies sold like fire online, the company increased production. Keikyū has also limited their production, but has begun a new service that allows people to download the eki-melo onto their mobile phones.

According to the manager at the Shinagawa Station shop (61yo), “Not only young men who are railfans, but also older women buy the CD. There’s also many children who ask their parents to buy the CD for them.”

“When we first released the CD, we saw it as a limited production concentrated in areas surrounding the Keikyū line. We never imagined it would sell this many copies in such a short amount of time,” says Universal Music project manager Watanabe Kiyotaka (43yo). He suggests that perhaps more and more children and women have become railfans.

The top-selling eki-melo CD so far has been a collection of JR East’s eki-melo released in March 2004 by Teichiku Entertainment (HQ: Tōkyō), which sold over 50,000 copies. The second volume released in June 2005 sold over 40,000 copies. According to the CD’s producer, people who are used to hearing the melodies have a sense of affinity with the songs and have bought the CDs.

Eki-melo are also incredibly popular among the visually-impaired.

According to Principal Sawada Shin of the Tōkyō Bunkyō School for the Blind, which serves approximately 50 visually-impaired high-school students, “Many students find the eki-melo comforting. There are even students who record the songs for their own purposes.” Shirai Takaaki (25), a blind triple jumper and violinist, is another fan of the eki-melo. “It’s a great help since stations and lines each have their own songs,” he says. Tōkyō-based sound production company Switch, which specializes in the production of eki-melo, is currently considering creating new songs using Shirai’s music.

Eki-melo: Music used in place of the typical bell sound signaling the arrival and departure of trains. In the Tōkyō area, they were first used by JR East in 1989 at Shinjuku and Shibuya Stations as part of image rebranding following the privatization of the national railways. Alarm clocks using eki-melo from these stations are also a popular item.

Source: ADVAN3 on YouTube
Yume de Aetara by the doo-wop group Rats & Star, used at Keikyū Kamata Station in Ōta Ward. Rats & Star members Suzuki Masayuki and Kuwano Nobuyoshi were both born in Ōta Ward.


Source: ADVAN3 on YouTube
Ue wo Muite Arukō by Sakamoto Kyū, used at Keikyū Kawasaki Station. Sakamoto Kyū is from Kawasaki City. Some may recognize the tune, as it became popular outside of Japan under various names.


Source: kawahama1107 on YouTube
Keikyū 2100 series (“do-re-mi” train) at Kanazawa Bunko Station.


Source: KM65536 on YouTube
Matsuzawa Ken performs JR East eki-melo live. The audience reacts as he plays some of the more familiar tunes at major Tōkyō terminals. Watching this, it may be easier to understand the potential of station music as a symbol of neighborhoods or districts.

[quashlo]

More of JR East E259 series


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
With gangway open, at Kamakura Car Center.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
View of the green car interior (the green car is Car 1, the end car towards Narita Airport). Leather seats and carpeted floor. The armrests hold power outlets for electronic devices.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
View of the regular car interior.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Operator cab is located high up. The path to the right leads to the gangway when the trains operate in 6+6 configuration.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Luggage storage area. There are dial locks, but I honestly don’t know how they’re supposed to work.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
17 in. LCD displays. Each car has 14 displays.


Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Large restroom in Car No. 1.

[FromLaVega]

Originally Posted by quashlo

JR East E259 series begins test runs

This is the replacement for the 253 series trains used exclusively for the Narita Express (N'EX). The 253 series is 18 years old and has been in service since the beginning of the Narita Express. The E259 series trains will begin service in Autumn 2009, with a total order of 132 cars. Like the 253 series, top speed is 130 km/h and basic formation is 6-car trains, which are then coupled as 6+6.

Features:

• Improved comfort through use of active suspension (used on Shinkansen E2 “Hayate” trains) and dampers
• Improved sound insulation for floor of car
• Roomier seats, with large tables and electrical outlets
• Increased space underneath seats for luggage
• Larger washroom to accommodate passengers in wheelchairs
• Reduced height gap between train and platform
• In-train information in multiple languages
• Security cameras located at each door and at luggage areas
• Locked luggage areas to deter theft
• Redundancy of critical electrical systems, train control, etc. (used on E233 series sets for Chūō Line and Keihin-Tōhoku Line)

Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
E259 series is at left, 253 series is at right. At Tsudanuma Station on the Sōbu Main Line.



Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Near Ichikawa Station on the Sōbu Main Line.



Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Near Shimousa Nakayama Station on the Sōbu Main Line.



Source: safaia2008 on YouTube
Departing Tsudanuma.



Source: safaia2008 on YouTube
Passing Shimousa Nakayama.



Source: yukinamatusima on YouTube
Full-color LED sign on car.

WOW

[quashlo]

New Skyliner makes first appearance

Looks like the E259 series’ rival has finally showed its face…
The first train in Keisei Electric Railway's New AE series was manufactured by Nippon Sharyō.
These units will be debut in 2010 on Keisei's Skyliner service connecting Ueno Station in Tōkyō and Narita Airport to coincide with the opening of the New Narita Rapid Railway.

At Sōgo Sandō Station on the Keisei Main Line:

Source: dash8sakura on YouTube

[ruready1000]

Originally Posted by nouveau.ukiyo

[JR East] Installation of platform doors on Yamanote Line

According to this JR East news, JR East has a plan to install screen door on all stations till 2017. Prior to install on all station, they will install on two station, Meguro and Ebis station, as a showcase and test on by the late of 2012.

[quashlo]

Just so there's no confusion, that is for Yamanote Line stations only, and only for Yamanote Line platforms at those stations. Other platforms at those stations will not receive doors. Ōsaki and Ikebukuro are somewhat special since these have four Yamanote Line platforms each instead of two.

[merepekje]

fantastic trains...........japan would be a rail traveler's wet dream!

[ruready1000]

Originally Posted by quashlo

Just so there's no confusion, that is for Yamanote Line stations only, and only for Yamanote Line platforms at those stations. Other platforms at those stations will not receive doors. Ōsaki and Ikebukuro are somewhat special since these have four Yamanote Line platforms each instead of two.

Ah you are right. It's only for Yamanote Line. I forgot to say it because it was a reply to [JR East] Installation of platform doors on Yamanote Line.

[quashlo]

Seibu releases 2008 ridership figures
http://www.seibu-group.co.jp/railway...kou/index.html

Figures for stations with 25,000+ average daily entries and exits:
Station, 2008 ridership, 2007 ridership, percent change

• Ikebukuro Line
  • Ikebukuro: 504,658 520,164 -2.98%
  • Higashi-Nagasaki: 27,836 28,449 -2.15%
  • Ekoda: 35,590 36,149 -1.55%
  • Nerima: 99,013 94,653 4.61%
  • Nakamurabashi: 38,672 38,330 0.89%
  • Shakujii Kōen: 69,391 68,729 0.96%
  • Ōizumi Gakuen: 83,995 82,833 1.40%
  • Hōya: 55,492 54,770 1.32%
  • Hibarigaoka: 67,682 67,318 0.54%
  • Higashi-Kurume: 51,791 50,840 1.87%
  • Kiyose: 71,222 71,501 -0.39%
  • Akitsu: 76,494 73,236 4.45%
  • Kotesashi: 49,091 48,696 0.81%
  • Sayamagaoka: 28,946 29,340 -1.34%
  • Iruma-shi: 37,247 34,979 6.48%
  • Hannō: 34,709 34,668 0.12%
• Yūrakuchō Line
  • Kotake - Mukaihara: 77,313 55,814 38.52%
• Shinjuku Line
  • Seibu Shinjuku: 184,118 188,824 -2.49%
  • Takadanobaba: 301,888 294,094 2.65%
  • Nakai: 28,544 28,133 1.46%
  • Saginomiya: 30,881 30,452 1.41%
  • Kami-Shakujii: 44,668 43,987 1.55%
  • Musashi Seki: 29,122 29,109 0.04%
  • Higashi-Fushimi: 25,387 25,041 1.38%
  • Tanashi: 76,985 76,283 0.92%
  • Hanakoganei: 53,634 52,809 1.56%
  • Kodaira: 38,128 37,308 2.20%
  • Kumegawa: 34,073 33,384 2.06%
  • Higashi-Murayama: 45,055 43,930 2.56%
  • Tokorozawa: 96,321 94,609 1.81%
  • Kōkū Kōen: 27,939 27,682 0.93%
  • Shin-Tokorozawa: 58,845 59,323 -0.81%
  • Sayama-shi: 44,611 45,021 -0.91%
  • Hon-Kawagoe: 48,686 47,744 1.97%
• Haijima Line
  • Tamagawa Jōsui: 38,365 37,246 3.00%
  • Haijima: 32,930 31,478 4.61%
• Kokubunji Line
  • Kokubunji: 116,055 115,432 0.54%
  • Takanodai: 26,684 26,503 0.68%
  • Ogawa: 28,598 27,812 2.83%
• Tamagawa Line
  • Musashi Sakai: 27,480 26,359 4.25%
  
  Seibu Total: 3,445,378 3,401,988 1.28%

[quashlo]

JR East uses OLEDs in advertisements
http://www.business-i.jp/news/ind-pa...905190095a.nwc

On May 18, JR East began an experimental study of advertisement displays using OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes) at JR Ebisu Station in Shibuya Ward, Tōkyō. This is the first time OLEDs have been used for advertisements inside train stations in Japan. The vivid images, anticipated to be a key technology in next-generation flat-panel television, have captured the attention of riders.

JR East has installed 16-in. tall by 10-in. wide displays at the top and side of two faregates located at the east exit of the station. In the trial, the displays will cycle through four still-image advertisements including an ad for a soccer team, changing every ten seconds.

In an experiment of electronic paper advertisements conducted by JR East in February 2008, only 4,090 colors could be displayed—equivalent to regular illustrations. OLEDs, however, can display up to 16.77 million colors, producing images at picture quality.

The experiment will run until May 31. JR East will evaluate the feasibility of OLEDs by examining the technological concerns and conducting surveys of passengers and ad sponsors.

In addition to use in mobile phone displays, Sony is marketing OLEDs as the next-generation of flat-panel television techonology after LCDs.

[quashlo]

With threat of swine flu, passengers turn to masks
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/dis...1217010-n1.htm

On the morning of April 18, the first weekday after confirmation of the first cases of swine flu inside Japan, it was hard not to miss all the mask-wearing passengers on commuter trains between Kōbe and Ōsaka, where several people have been infected with the virus.

On Hanshin trains, as many as 30 percent of passengers were wearing masks during the rush hour. JR and Hankyū trains seemed slightly less crowded than normal, possibly the result of the absence of students heading to and from classrooms as schools have temporarily closed down.

At Hanshin Nishinomiya Station in Nishinomiya City, Hyōgo Prefecture, among the passengers waiting at platforms, those donning masks stood out. As a Nara Station-bound rapid express from Kōbe arrived, heading for Ōsaka, as many as 30 percent of passengers were wearing masks.

When a middle-aged man coughed, other passengers turned their heads to see—perhaps a result of anxiety over the uncertainties regarding the sequence of events and status of the swine flu outbreak. While there were next to no middle- or high-school students inside the train, one female student in uniform covered her mouth with a handkerchief, perhaps in place of a mask.

And then there is Hankyū’s Ōji Kōen Station in Nada Ward, Kōbe, the closest station to the prefectural Kōbe High School—where several people have been diagnosed with the virus—and several other private schools. During commute times, the station is normally bustling with students on their way to school, but there were no students in uniform today.

“Usually, there’s elementary school children running through the faregates around this time…” remarked one attendant at the station (49yo). “It’s much emptier than usual,” said one commuter (58yo) on his way to the office. “After hearing that there were cases discovered in Kōbe, I went out to buy masks immediately,” said one male office worker (32yo) standing at the platform.

At JR Ōsaka Station, a male office worker (47yo) from Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture who had gotten on at Aboshi Station on the San’yō Line, remarked, “There aren’t many students at all on the train… It’s practically all salarymen in masks. I’ve never been on a train this empty during the rush hour.”

However, on lines outside of the Kōbe – Ōsaka corridor, few passengers chose to wear masks, with the rush hour continuing relatively unchanged. A male office worker (42yo) from Neyagawa City in Ōsaka Prefecture who had boarded a Keihan train from Neyagawa-shi Station, said, “I saw people wearing masks, but they were few. I didn’t feel it was any less crowded than usual.”


After the spread in swine flu cases, commuters wearing masks stand out at JR Sannomiya Station (April 18, 8:20 AM).


Outside JR Sannomiya Station (April 18, 8:05 AM).


While normally bustling with children headed to school, Ōji Kōen Station was deserted today.

[quashlo]

JR East E233-2000 series begins trial runs

May 19 was the first day this series made an appearance, doing test runs on the Tōkaidō Line from Zushi to Tsurumi, and from there on via the Musashino Line to the Jōban Line between Toride and Matsudo. The first unit was constructed by Tōkyū Car Company and is part of a series of 18 trains (180 cars total) that will be built for JR East to replace aging 203 series and 207-9000 series sets currently running on the Jōban Local Line and Tōkyō Metro Chiyoda Line through-service. Due to restrictions on the Chiyoda Line, the sets look quite different from existing 233 series trains on the Tōkaidō Line, Chūō Rapid Line, and Keihin-Tōhoku Line, with narrower width and emergency exits at the front of trains. The E233 series is the newest series of trains for use on JR East’s major commute lines and their introduction to the Jōban Line was originally announced in March 2007, but was slightly delayed until 2009.


http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
The first unit sits at JR’s Zushi Station on the Yokosuka Line. Special track at this station connects the JR network with Tōkyū Car Company’s Yokohama Factory. The exterior destination signs at the train ends and on car sides are full-color LED.


http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
At Zushi. Car No. 1, marked with pink “women-only” stickers on the windows.


http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Car No. 9.


http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Car No. 2.


http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Closeup of the roof of Car. No. 6, which has two pantographs.


At Zushi Station.


Source: tobu2181 on YouTube
At Kashiwa Station on the Jōban Line.


Source: safaia2008 on YouTube
At Minami-Kashiwa Station on the Jōban Line. Ironically, the train is actually using the rapid tracks during its test runs.


Source: endlesspeak on YouTube
At Fuchū Honmachi Station on the Musashino Line.

[k.k.jetcar]

[QUOTE=quashlo;36778902]More of JR East E259 series




Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/
Luggage storage area. There are dial locks, but I honestly don’t know how they’re supposed to work.

The locks are simple to operate. You input a four digit code of your choice on the right, and then turn the dial to the left to "lock". To open, repeat the process, and turn the dial to "open". My apartment mailbox has the same system.

[quashlo]

Well, I get that part, I guess... I just don't know what it's supposed to be "locking" and what the spiral cable is for.

[nouveau.ukiyo]

Originally Posted by quashlo

Well, I get that part, I guess... I just don't know what it's supposed to be "locking" and what the spiral cable is for.

I would surmise luggage handles.

[k.k.jetcar]

It got its press introduction today:









Bolsterless bogies- a first for Keisei. This type is banned on Keikyu Lines, so the trainset was delivered completely by JR to its final destination(using temporarily fitted narrow gauge bogies, of course).








Source (with more pix):
http://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/419/419563/

[japanese001]

[k.k.jetcar]

Originally Posted by quashlo

Well, I get that part, I guess... I just don't know what it's supposed to be "locking" and what the spiral cable is for.

Here is the video which shows how it works (at about 2:06 in the clip). The rest of the report is good too (new Skyliner stuff):

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wbs/2009/05/n1-123.html

[hkskyline]

New Japan train to make Tokyo airport run in 36 minutes
21 May 2009
Agence France Presse

A sleek new high-speed train will from next year cut the travel time between Tokyo and Narita International Airport to 36 minutes, down from the current 51 minutes, the rail company said Thursday.

The Skyliner, in metallic blue and white, was designed by Japanese fashion leader Kansai Yamamoto. It will travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometres (99 miles) per hour on the 64-kilometre route, the company said.

The train, set to start operations some time in 2010, will connect Nippori Station near Ueno in northern Tokyo with the Terminal 2 building at Narita Airport, Keisei Electric Railway said.

[quashlo]

Originally Posted by k.k.jetcar

Here is the video which shows how it works (at about 2:06 in the clip). The rest of the report is good too (new Skyliner stuff):

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/wbs/2009/05/n1-123.html

Thanks, I can see how the lock pops out... But to be honest, I think the locks look out of place with the rest of the E259 interior.

I'm liking the new Skyliner luggage areas much better. I think the rest of the Skyliner interior (restrooms, lounges, and all) looks better, too.