JR West unveils new Japanese long distance train with special features for passengers

This is an extra special rail experience, even by Japanese standards.

We’ve always had a soft spot for Japanese trains, but now there’s a new addition to the rails that’s set to blow everyone away, with stylish interiors, private rooms, bunk beds and break areas designed to provide optimal comfort for long-journey passengers.

Designed by West Japan Railway Company as part of their 2022 Middle Management Project, the new train is a six-carriage remodelled 117 series with all-reserved seating for 90 passengers. The interior design will be based around three themes: Diversity, Casual, and Comfort.

Each carriage will feature a different setup, to cater for passengers with different requirements. In the second carriage, there will be reserved seating for the exclusive use of women, with a bright interior, comfortable chairs, and plenty of leg room.

The third carriage will have private compartments, where travelling families can relax with their small children. Furnished with a mat that can be used as either a seat or a mattress, these private spaces will be a godsend for parents on long journeys.

The fourth carriage will be set up as a “free space area”,with tables, booths and an open-plan design.

The first and sixth carriages will be designated “green cars”, which offer a more luxurious style of seating. In the first carriage there will be booth-style seats that can be adjusted to form a bed, so you can enjoy a snooze anytime of the day or night.

The sixth car will offer even more luxury, with private rooms that can be set up in a number of different styles, according to your needs.

The fifth carriage will have dormitory-style rooms fitted out with fixed flat beds.

The new long-distance train is set to operate from Keihanshin (the metropolitan area of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) out to the San’in and Sanyo districts in Japan’s southwest. Scheduled to make its debut in the spring of 2020, the train will be ready in time to welcome visitors to the country for the 2020 Olympics.

Source, images: JR West Press Release

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