Japan Railway (19 photos)

It's about a train Sunrise Izumo / Seto, which connects Tokyo Shimane Prefecture in western Japan and Takamatsu on Shikoku Island. In fact, two trains: the composition of the evening goes from Tokyo, is divided into two parts in Okayama and in the morning the two parts come in Izumo and Takamatsu. At the same time in the opposite direction of the train engage in Okayama and go to the capital





A distinctive feature of the composition can be called what it is not cars with a locomotive, as we are used to seeing night trains and two electric motor with two and five trailer cars each. However, the old night train with a locomotive too long there, but because of the expansion of the network Shinkansen, "traditional" Night Messages "Blue Train" (as they are called in Japan), it becomes less and less. Direction Izumo / Takamatsu - Tokyo serves not only the residents of end stations, but, first of all, is one of the few ways to get from Tokyo to the night's second-largest city in the country - Osaka, so drop in passenger traffic this train is not threatened.



Although Sunrise Express travels along paths once owned four companies, the direction is served by JR East. Electric 285-series co-production Kawasaki, Nippon and Kinki Syarё Syarё specifically "sharpened" under this line and its passenger traffic, because nowhere else in Japan is not found. All double-decker cars and windows specially oriented to the path of the Izumo to Tokyo to watch the sunset over the rivers and Hino Takahashi, view of the sky over the mountains of the Chugoku or see the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean on the way back. The maximum speed of the train - 130 km / h faster than almost anywhere else in the Japanese narrow gauge does not accelerate. Compounds cars sealed, air vents around the part of not - meant that a faulty air conditioning composition of the line can not produce.

The train three classes: single "deluxe" (A1), single and double second class (B1 and B2), as well as local analogue reserved seat, called nobinobi. Their location can be seen in the diagram composition (again, all in Japanese). Two cars in the 14 carriages made up smoking. Train to Japanese standards is quite old, was built in 1997, so all sorts of newfangled features like wi-fi in the cabin should not wait. There is also a compartment for the disabled, on the wagon 1-2 toilet.

Single deluxe, as the name implies, a single compartment. Besides beds located along the direction of motion it has a sink with hot and cold water, a table, a chair, a mirror, a control unit and a TV. There is enough space even for a person with a lot of baggage.



All passengers free issue Yukata robe and slippers.



On the control unit regulates the air conditioning, the volume of ads stops and lighting in the compartment.



Also, all first class passengers give a nice bag of toiletries: towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, razor, all kinds of shampoos and gels. All this, of course, you can take home with them.





Window coupe first class "gets" on the roof: it is very nice to watch him from the starry sky.



Coupe each class occupies its own segment on the floor. From the corridor at high platforms to lead them up and down stairs.



Any passenger can benefit from using a card shower. Showers - four on the composition. For passengers traveling in first class, this service is free, the rest have to buy a card, approximately 100 rubles. The card can run hot water for 6 minutes (before the eyes of the counter ticks). If someone prefers a cold shower, the shower can use for free. At the exit, you should click the button disinfection and sanitation, which is a 1-minute brushing booth from your presence there. Train from Izumo to Tokyo is 12 hours so that is enough time for it to take a shower before going to bed, how to sleep, and in the morning wash your hair and have breakfast.



Local economy class is a two-level segments, separated from each other by a small wall near the window. The Japanese used to sleep on the floor. Curtains can be separated only by the passage, but not from adjacent segments, although if you sleep head to the window, the neighbors can not see.







Single second class - just a bed with a minimum of space for luggage.



And looks coupe.



Each composition Sunrise Izumo and Seto there is one conductor. Tickets are checked after the start of movement, access to the compartment - four-digit key that sets the passenger. Guides announce stops (heard from the speakers in the coupe), but spaced teas are not engaged: beverages sold in vending machines, there is also a small lounge bar. Especially since they are not forced to take the "B" before the arrival of the final.



Toilets are available in Europe,



and in the Japanese style. Management sink and washbasin and there, and there touch.



As is known, the individual brand formulations now we have only read the directions, including Leningrad. Single compartment and shower in the train Railways still considers "luxuries", for example, single compartment in "grandekspresse" will cost a minimum of 19,000 rubles, while a single second-class compartment in Sunrise Izumo stands up to 6,000 rubles (with more we must not forget about the fact that the level of income in Japan is much higher than Russia). The demand for low cost transportation in single compartment Railways is not going to meet, although it is due to the fact that the compartment and even soft wagons have to spend the night with strangers, many passengers prefer to train the plane ticket which is often cheaper coupe.

Well, again, I repeat that described in this reportage comfort level - is the level of 17 years ago.

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