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Just caught this on Ompuchaneru (http://rail-uploader.khz-net.com/index.php?id=37663)... Work will start this year to prepare for the inclusion of 2 bi-level green cars in Chuo Rapid Line and Ome Line train formations. Additionally, the trains will be lengthened to 12-car formations. Based on the pdf, the bi-level green cars will be the familiar cars we see now in other Tokyo-area JRE consists. The service is planned to begin in 2020. This involves more than just building the cars; they'll have to improve stations, lines, signalling, and depots. A little green car history from the pdf: May 1969 - First-class cars on the Tokaido and Yokosuka lines are changed to "green cars" October 1980 - Green cars appear on the Sobu Line when the line's connection to and direct services with the Yokosuka Line begin March 1989 - Bi-level cars are added to Tokaido Line trains March 1990 - Bi-level cars are added to Yokosuka/Sobu Line trains July 2004 - Bi-level cars are added to Utsunomiya/Takasaki Line trains (which operate as locals until October) October 2004 - Bi-level cars are added to Shonan-Shinjuku Line trains January 2007 - Bi-level cars are added to mid-distance Joban Line trains (which operate as locals until March) JR East pdf: http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2014/20150203.pdf

Here's a very well made video by jitensya37 about the history of the area around Shiojiri Station. Thanks to some clear maps and years written in the western system, this video is understandable and enjoyable. Shiojiri Station's history starts in 1902 under JGR, at this point specifically the Ministry of Railways. The video shows various line alterations over the years including the relocation of the station building in 1982 as well as a walk around the neighborhood. It became JR East territory in 1987 and is also the administrative border with JR Central's portion of the Chuo Line running southwest to Nagoya. jitensya37's other videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/jitensya37/videos Google map centered on Shiojiri Station: https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1134192,137.9493623,14.75z Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiojiri_Station Wikipedia map of lines: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ファイル:岡谷・辰野・塩尻付近_JR路線図.svg The excellent Senro Haisenzu blog also has several entries for Shiojiri. Included are track diagrams and old photos: December 25 1978 pts 1 and 2: http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/02/19781225_adaf.html http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2016/05/19781224-bd4d.html May 1 1988 pts 1 and 2: http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2016/05/198851-d36d.html http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2016/06/198851-086c.html May 1 2002 pts 1 and 2: http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/07/200251-1-3877.html http://senrohaisenzu.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/07/200251-2-a1b8.html

Well I hear crickets, so I'm going to try to make some noise today . First up, a video by dbz586601. He's one of the best uploaders I've found for coverage of JR Central and Tokai-area private railways, and he's been quite prolific over the past week or so with dozens of uploads of run-bys as well as a few zenmen tenbou videos. Here we have JR Central's Nakasendo Train, a new special service apparently classified as a kyuko (non-limited express, with a lower surcharge) on the Chuo West Line run with the former Asagiri 371 Series rolling stock. This two-part video is a ride departing Narai at 3:42 PM, which is over halfway to Nagano from Nagoya. The Shinano limited express uses the same route. Plenty of footage of rural scenery in the first video, and in the second, a cool night view, particularly towards the end. The departure at Tajimi, the last stop before Nagoya, is at 28:15, and by this point the sun has set. I think at 39:00 they're passing Jinryo Station and Depot. The approach to Nagoya starts around 46:50, passing under the #2 Nagoya Loop Highway, and crossing the Shonai River just after that. This river is the northeastern border of the city, and past that is Shin-Moriyama, the first station in the city limits. Have a look at the link below about the Nakasendo, very interesting. It appears that the modern Chuo West Line is roughly parallel, just as the Tokaido Main Line and Shinkansen are parallel to the historical Tokaido. Narai to Ena Ena to Nagoya map of the five historical routes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JP_-Gokaido.png the Nakasendo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakasend%C5%8D Ena Station: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ena_Station the train's schedule on ekikara.jp: http://ekikara.jp/newdata/detail/2301021/68553.htm

Here's a very good zenmen tenbou video of JR Central's Central Liner by YT uploader aomonoya. The rolling stock is JRC 313 series, although it's the 8000 subseries which has a different livery and interior. There are 6 3-car sets of these, all based at Jinryo Depot, between Kasugai and Jinryo on the Chuo Line. This is set B206 as you can see in the lower corner of the windshield. Presumably aomonoya decided to document this because JRC will replace the Central Liner services with regular rapid services with the March 16 2013 timetable revision. I haven't seen anything about the fate of this 8000 subseries rolling stock, obviously it's very new so it won't be scrapped but whether it will be modified to match the other variants, it will be interesting to see. There are liner services with each of the JR companies except Shikoku, and also with several private railways, although they have other names. The surcharge structure used for these liner trains seems to be very similar to non-limited express (kyuko) services which are now almost all gone. This is also a good look at the Chuo West Line, which are fairly rare on YT as compared to the eastern portion, particularly Tokyo to Takao/Otsuki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/313_series#313-8000_series http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Liner 8000 subseries interior images: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/mlnagara373/40934565.html, http://www.uraken.net/rail/alltrain/uratetsu313.html