Japanese Railway Glossary (WIP)

[eldomtom2]

I thought this might be helpful. This is very incomplete and is something I'll be slowly working on over time. I do not speak Japanese and this is primarily based on Google Translate - corrections are appreciated.

 

Entries are sorted in thematic, not alphabetical, order. Some entries are present in multiple sections for the sake of clarity. I also host this glossary on my website; while I will try to keep this thread up-to-date I cannot guarantee that every change made to the website version will be included in this thread.

 

General

 

• 列車 (れっしゃ, ressha): a train
• 電車 (でんしゃ, densha): strictly speaking, an electric railcar or EMU; however, commonly used to refer to trains in general
• 汽車 (きしゃ, kisha): multiple meanings: a steam locomotive, a locomotive-hauled train, a steam or diesel train (as opposed to an electric train), a train in general
• 機関車 (きかんしゃ, kikansha): a locomotive
• 鉄道 (てつどう, tetsudō): a railway
• 線 (せん, sen): a line (the word covers the concept of lines in general)
• 鉄道路線 (てつどうろせん, tetsudō rosen): a railway line
• 本線 (ほんせん, honsen): a main line
• 支線 (しせん, shisen): a branch line
• 幹線 (てつどうろせん, kansen): a trunk route (in the context of railways, roads, power lines, etc.)
• 新幹線 (しんかんせん, shinkansen): literally "new trunk route", the high-speed rail network operated by the JR companies and commonly referred to as the "bullet train" in English

• 在来線 (ざいらいせん, zairaisen): a conventional, i.e. non-high-speed, railway line

• 電気鉄道 (でんきてつどう, denki tetsudō): an electric railway
• 電鉄 (でんてつ, dentetsu): an abbreviation of 電気鉄道. Common in company names
• 国鉄 (こくてつ, kokutetsu): a nationalised railway; commonly used to refer to the Japanese National Railways but also refers to non-Japanese government-owned railways
• 鉄道駅 (てつどうえき, tetsudō eki): a railway station; the term covers both passenger and freight facilities. Usually shortened to 駅 (see below)
• 駅 (えき, eki): while in an etymological sense this just means "station" (it derives from the Chinese term for a relay station where horses were changed, the Japanese term for which is 駅家), it nowadays almost exclusively refers to railway stations, and is not used e.g. for bus stations
• 切符 (きっぷ, kippu): A ticket in the broad sense; to quote Wikipedia's definition for the English word, "a voucher that indicates that an individual is entitled to admission to an event or establishment, or has a right to travel on a vehicle"
• 乗車券 (じょうしゃけん, jōsha-ken): A railway or bus ticket

 

Rolling stock - general terms

 

• 列車 (れっしゃ, ressha): a train
• 電車 (でんしゃ, densha): strictly speaking, an electric railcar or EMU; however, commonly used to refer to trains in general
• 汽車 (きしゃ, kisha): multiple meanings: a steam locomotive, a locomotive-hauled train, a steam or diesel train (as opposed to an electric train), a train in general

• 気動車 (きどうしゃ, kidōsha): a self-powered (by steam, diesel, etc) railcar or multiple unit, as opposed to electric ones that draw power or are charged from external sources

• 機関車 (きかんしゃ, kikansha): a locomotive
• 動力車 (どうりょくしゃ, dōryokusha): legally defined as any powered rail vehicle, but in common usage refers solely to powered cars in multiple units, as opposed to unpowered trailer cars
• 動力集中方式 (どうりょくしゅうちゅうほうしき, dōryoku shūchū hōshiki): literally "centralised power system"; the use of locomotives as opposed to multiple units for a train
• 動力分散方式 (どうりょくぶんさんほうしき, dōryoku bunsan hōshiki): literally "distributed power system"; the use of multiple units as opposed to locomotives for a train
• 警笛 (けいてき, keiteki): a horn or whistle
• 運転台 (うんてんだい, untendai): a cab
• 操縦席 (そうじゅうせき, sōjūseki): a cab or cockpit; more commonly used for aircraft etc but also sometimes used for rail vehicles

 

Rolling stock - steam locomotives

 

• 汽車 (きしゃ, kisha): multiple meanings: a steam locomotive, a locomotive-hauled train, a steam or diesel train (as opposed to an electric train), a train in general
• 蒸気機関車 (じょうききかんしゃ, jōki kikansha): a steam locomotive
• SL (エスエル): a steam locomotive or steam-hauled train
• タンク機関車 (タンクきかんしゃ, tanku kikansha): a tank locomotive
• テンダー機関車 (テンダーきかんしゃ, tendā kikansha): a tender locomotive
• 炭水車 (たんすいしゃ, tansuisha): a tender
• 火室 (ひしつ, kashitsu): a firebox
• 自動給炭機 (じどうきゅうたんき, jidō kyūtanki): a mechanical stoker
• ボイラー (ぼいらー, boirā): a boiler
• 安全弁 (あんぜんべん, anzenben): a safety valve
• 煙室 (けむりしつ, kemuri-shitsu): a smokebox
• 弁装置 (べんそうち, ben sōchi): valve gear
• シリンダー (しりんだー, shirindā): a cylinder
• 動輪 (どうりん, dōrin): driving wheels
• 先輪 (せんりん, senrin): leading wheels
• 従輪 (じゅうりん, jūrin): trailing wheels

• 汽笛 (きてき, kiteki): a steam whistle

• 気動車 (きどうしゃ, kidōsha): a self-powered (by steam, diesel, etc) railcar or multiple unit, as opposed to electric ones that draw power or are charged from external sources
• 蒸気動車 (じょうきどうしゃ, jōkidōsha): a steam railcar

 

Rolling stock - diesel and electric locomotives

 

NB: terms common to both locomotives and multiple units/railcars are placed here.

 

• 汽車 (きしゃ, kisha): multiple meanings: a steam locomotive, a locomotive-hauled train, a steam or diesel train (as opposed to an electric train), a train in general
• ディーゼル機関車 (ディーゼルきかんしゃ, dīzeru kikansha): a diesel locomotive
• DL (ディーエル): a diesel locomotive or diesel-hauled train
• 電気機関車 (でんききかんしゃ, denki kikansha): a electric locomotive
• EL (イーエル): an electric locomotive or electric-hauled train

 

Rolling stock - multiple units and railcars

 

• 電車 (でんしゃ, densha): strictly speaking, an electric railcar or EMU; however, commonly used to refer to trains in general
• 動力車 (どうりょくしゃ, dōryokusha): legally defined as any powered rail vehicle, but in common usage refers solely to powered cars in multiple units, as opposed to unpowered trailer cars
• 気動車 (きどうしゃ, kidōsha): a self-powered (by steam, diesel, etc) railcar or multiple unit, as opposed to electric ones that draw power or are charged from external sources

• 内燃動車 (ないねんどうしゃ, nainendōsha): a railcar or multiple unit powered by an internal combustion engine

• ガソリンカー (がそりんかー, gasorinkā): a gasoline railcar. The last gasoline railcars in Japan were withdrawn in 1969
• ガソリン動車 (がそりんどうしゃ, gasorin dōsha): alternate term for ガソリンカー
• ディーゼルカー (でぃーぜるかー, dīzerukā): a diesel railcar or DMU
• ディーゼル動車 (でぃーぜるどうしゃ, dīzeru dōsha): alternate term for ディーゼルカー

• レールバス (れーるばす, rērubasu): a railbus

• 電動客車 (でんどうきゃくしゃ, dendō kyakusha): literally "electric passenger carriage"; an electric railcar or a powered car in an EMU. Generally used in a historical context and not used for present-day trains
• 電動貨車 (でんどうかしゃ, dendō kasha): literally "electric freight carriage"; an electric railcar or a powered car in an EMU used to carry freight, or an electric railcar used for departmental purposes
• 電動車 (でんどうしゃ, dendōsha): literally "electric motor vehicle"; outside railways is used to refer to electric cars etc, but in the railway context means a powered car in an electric multiple unit
• 付随車 (ふずいしゃ, fuzuisha): an unpowered car in a multiple unit, a trailer car
• 制御車 (せいぎょしゃ, seigyosha): a control car, i.e. a passenger carriage fitted with a cab. The term applies to both control cars used in multiple units and those used with locomotive-hauled trains
• 制御付随車 (せいぎょふずいしゃ, seigyofuzuisha): an unpowered control car. The term applies to both control cars used in multiple units and those used with locomotive-hauled trains
• 制御電動車 (せいぎょでんどうしゃ, seigyodendōsha): a powered control car in an electric multiple unit

• 運転台撤去車 (うんてんだいてっきょしゃ, untendaitekkyosha): a control car that has had its cab removed to convert it into an intermediate car

 

Rolling stock - unpowered vehicles

 

• 客車 (きゃくしゃ, kyakusha): a locomotive-hauled passenger carriage
• 客車列車 (きゃくしゃれっしゃ, kyakusha ressha): a locomotive-hauled passenger train
• 制御車 (せいぎょしゃ, seigyosha): a control car, i.e. a passenger carriage fitted with a cab. The term applies to both control cars used in multiple units and those used with locomotive-hauled trains
• 制御付随車 (せいぎょふずいしゃ , seigyofuzuisha): an unpowered control car. The term applies to both control cars used in multiple units and those used with locomotive-hauled trains
• 制御客車 (せいぎょきゃくしゃ, seigyokyakusha): a fairly rare term that seems to generally refer solely to unpowered control cars used in a locomotive-hauled train
• 貨車 (かしゃ, kasha): a freight car/goods wagon

 

Rolling stock - departmental/engineering vehicles

 

• 事業用車 (じぎょうようしゃ, jigyōyōsha): a departmental vehicle, a vehicle used for maintenance, training, etc. rather than the commercial transport of passengers or freight
• 電動貨車 (でんどうかしゃ, dendō kasha): literally "electric freight carriage"; an electric railcar or a powered car in an EMU used to carry freight, or an electric railcar used for departmental purposes

 

Rolling stock - passenger vehicle components

 

• 方向幕 (ほうこうまく, hōkōmaku): a destination indicator that is either a rollsign or a modern LED display
• 行先標 (ゆきさきひょう, yukusakihyō): an older destination indicator that is neither a rollsign or a modern LED display

 

Infrastructure - stations

 

• 鉄道駅 (てつどうえき, tetsudō eki): a railway station; the term covers both passenger and freight facilities. Usually shortened to 駅 (see below)
• 駅 (えき, eki): while in an etymological sense this just means "station" (it derives from the Chinese term for a relay station where horses were changed, the Japanese term for which is 駅家), it nowadays almost exclusively refers to railway stations, and is not used e.g. for bus stations
• 旅客駅 (りょかくえき, ryokaku eki): a passenger station
• 貨物駅 (かもつえき, kamotsu eki): a freight depot/goods yard
• 停車場 (ていしゃじょう, teishaba): any place where trains can be scheduled to arrive or depart from, including marshalling yards, passing loops, etc; compare German bahnhof. Originally the sole term for what is now usually referred to as 駅, but was mostly supplanted by the mid-20th century
• ターミナル駅 (ターミナルえき, tāminaru eki): a terminal station, both in the sense of a station where the tracks end and in the sense of a station at which services terminate (though other services may continue)
• 終着駅 (しゅうちゃくえき, shūchakueki): alternate term for ターミナル駅
• 駅ビル (えきビル, eki biru): a large station building with space for separate commercial facilities such as shops and offices; an example is the JR Central Towers
• 地上駅 (ちじょうえき, chijō eki): a station built at ground level
• 高架駅 (こうかえき, kōka eki): an elevated station
• 地下駅 (ちかえき, chika eki): an underground station
• 橋上駅 (きょうじょうえき, hashigamieki): a station with the station building on a bridge over the platforms, e.g. Mejiro station in Tokyo

 

Infrastructure - track

 

• 踏切 (ふみきり, fumikiri): a level crossing. Japanese level crossings are placed into one of four classes:
• 第1種 (だい1しゅ, dai 1-shu): Class 1 level crossings either have automatic barriers or are permanently manned manual crossings
• 第2種 (だい2しゅ, dai 2-shu): Class 2 level crossings are manual crossings that are not permanently manned. When not manned, they are considered Class 3 or 4 level crossings. The last Class 2 level crossings were closed or converted into other classes in the 1980s
• 第3種 (だい3しゅ, dai 3-shu): Class 3 level crossings do not have automatic barriers but do have automatic warning devices
• 第4種 (だい4しゅ, dai 4-shu): Class 4 level crossings lack both automatic barriers and automatic warning devices

 

Infrastructure - electrification

 

• 鉄道の電化 (てつどうのでんか, tetsudōnodenka): railway electrification
• 直流電化 (ちょくりゅうでんか, chokuryū denka): DC electrification
• 交流電化 (こうりゅうでんか, kōryū denka): AC electrification
• 架空電車線方式 (かくうでんしゃせんほうしき,kakūdenshasenhōshiki): overhead line electrification
• 架空電車線 (かくうでんしゃせん, kakūdenshasen): an overhead line (for railway use)
• 架線 (かせん, kasen): an overhead line (not specifically for railway use, can apply to power lines etc.) Can refer specifically to railway overhead lines by being pronounced がせん (gasen)
• 電車線 (でんしゃせん, denshasen): alternate term for 架空電車線
• 鉄道用架線 (てつどうようかせん, tetsudōyōkasen): alternate term for 架空電車線
• カテナリー吊架 (かてなりーつか, katenarī chōka): catenary suspension
• 第三軌条方式 (だいさんきじょうほうしき, daisankijōhōshiki): third rail electrification
• サードレール式 (さーどれーるしき, sādorērushiki): alternate term for 第三軌条方式
• 第三軌条 (だいさんきじょう, daisankijō): a third rail
• サードレール (さーどれーる, sādorēru): alternate term for 第三軌条
• 第三レール (だいさんれーる, daisanrēru): alternate term for 第三軌条

 

Operations - organisation

 

• 運用 (うんよう, un'yō): the process of assigning rolling stock and crews to services

• 鉄道運行計画 (てつどううんこうけいかく, tetsudō unkō keikaku): general term for 車両運用計画, 乗務員運用計画, etc.

• 車両運用計画 (しゃりょううんようけいかく, sharyō un'yō keikaku): A plan of the services a specific locomotive or multiple unit will operate; in UK parlance, a unit diagram

• 乗務員運用計画 (じょうむいん うんよう けいかく, jōmu-in un'yō keikaku): A plan of the services a specific crew will operate; in UK parlance, a crew diagram

• 構内作業計画 (こうないさぎょうけいかく, kōnai sagyō keikaku): A schedule for shunting, inspections, cleaning, etc. at a station or depot

 

Operations - passenger operations

 

• ドアカット (どあかっと, doa katto): wasei-eigo formed from "door" and "cut". Refers to when only some doors are opened at a station, e.g. when the train is longer than the platform; in UK parlance, selective door operation
• ドア非扱い (どあひあつかい, doa hi atsukai): alternate term for ドアカット
• 扉非扱い (とびらひあつかい, tobira hi atsukai): alternate term for ドアカット
• ドア締切扱い (どあしめきりあつかい, doa shimekiri atsukai): alternate term for ドアカット

 

Operations - service types

 

• 回送 (かいそう, kaisō): An train operating without passengers or cargo, e.g. to and from a depot; in UK parlance, a ECS move. Usually translated as "out of service" or "not in service" on destination signs

 

Tickets

 

• 切符 (きっぷ, kippu): A ticket in the broad sense; to quote Wikipedia's definition for the English word, "a voucher that indicates that an individual is entitled to admission to an event or establishment, or has a right to travel on a vehicle"
• 乗車券 (じょうしゃけん, jōsha-ken): A railway or bus ticket

 

Unconventional railways

 

• ケーブルカー (けーぶるかー, kēburukā): derived from the English term "cable car"; used for all cable-hauled railways
• 鋼索鉄道 (こうさくてつどう, kōsaku tetsudō): alternate term for ケーブルカー; literally translates to "cable railway"
• ラック式鉄道 (ラックしきてつどう, rakkushikitetsudō): a rack railway

 

Unofficial jargon

 

• 盲腸線 (もうちょうせん, mōchō-sen): literally "appendix line" (using the colloquial word 盲腸, which more properly refers to the cecum, instead of the medical term 虫垂), a vaguely defined term applied to dead-end branch lines

• 湘南顔 (しょうなんがお, shōnan-gao): the "Shōnan face"; the front end design of the 80 series EMUs (which were nicknamed the "Shōnan train" for the area they served), a style that was widely imitated by Japanese locomotives and multiple units built in the 1950s and 60s

• 遜色急行 (そんしょくきゅうこう, sonshokukyūkō): literally "inferior express"; an express train operated by rolling stock not designed for use on express trains
• 乗り得列車 (のりとくれっしゃ, noritokuressha): the opposite of 遜色急行, a non-express train operated by express rolling stock

 

Railway enthusiasm

 

• SLブーム (SL būmu): the "SL boom", the spike in steam locomotive enthusiasm that occured during the final decade of steam operations on JNR (1965-75)

Edited Thursday at 10:22 PM by eldomtom2

[kuro68000]

Great idea. I'll add some.

 

信号　（しんごう shingou）signal/traffic light, also used on roads. Note that the green signal is 青 (ao), not 緑 (midori), even thought it is what we would call green.

快速　（かいそく, kaisoku) rapid service train (slower than an express)

間もなく　（まもなく, mamonaku) soon/shortly, used in station announcements

止　（とめ, tome) stop. As well as on road signs, this is often seen on announcements of suspensions.

線　（せん, sen) line, e.g. 京浜東北線 (Keihin-tōhoku-sen, Keihin-Tōhoku line). Stations don't use platform numbers, they use line numbers, e.g. 二番線 （にばんせん, ni ban sen) platform 2.

 

北　（ほくと, hokuto, きた, kita) north, e.g. Kita-Senjyu
東　（ひがし, higashi) east, e.g. Higashi-Nakano
南　（みなみ, minami) south, e.g. Minami-Senjyu
西　（にし, nishi) west, e.g Nishi-Asakusa

前　（まえ, mae) in front of, e.g. 駅前 in front of the station

 

Edited September 14 by kuro68000