Hanshin/Kintetsu through-line express, Hanshin Sannomiya to Kintetsu Nara

[Sacto1985]

A YouTube user filmed this zenmen tenbou video of one of the through-service limited express trains from Hanshin Sannomiya Station in Kobe to Kintetsu Nara Station:

 

 

Note the large number of grade separation projects under construction along the way at the time this video was filmed on 20 February 2014.

[bikkuri bahn]

The construction of the Nanba Line connection has also enabled the operation of rinji limited express services from far corners of the Kintetsu system into the Hanshin main line.  Such as this recent service from Nagoya to Hanshin Koshien Station:

 

http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/soukatsu/hanshin_kintetsu/

 

*Apparently Kintetsu is very keen to tap the Kobe market for destinations in their network with regularly scheduled limited express services.  Hanshin is more wary, worried about limited express taking up pathings on their main line.

[miyakoji]

Thanks Sacto, I don't think I've seen videos from that user before.

[Mudkip Orange]

I love those sort of special expresses. Nagoya to Kobe for a baseball game, how fun would that be.

[Sacto1985]

I love those sort of special expresses. Nagoya to Kobe for a baseball game, how fun would that be.

 

Just the one way trip from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station would probably take over 3 hours! Wouldn't it be a lot faster to take the Hikari Shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka, then take a short JR West train ride to Osaka Station, then walk to the Hanshin Umeda Station to take a "rapid" train to Nishinomiya?

[Sacto1985]

That same YouTube member also filmed this zenmen tenbou video of a Hankyu limited express train (Kyo-Train) from Kawaramachi in Kyoto to Hankyu Umeda Station:

 

 

Note that the train is a 6300 Series EMU, originally built in 1970's but completely refurbished in 2008-2011 to modern standards. They appear to be primarily intended for tourists travelling between Osaka and Kyoto, since train announcements are in Japanese, English, Korean and Mandarin Chinese, VERY unusual for a Hankyu trainset.

[ToniBabelony]

Just the one way trip from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station would probably take over 3 hours! Wouldn't it be a lot faster to take the Hikari Shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka, then take a short JR West train ride to Osaka Station, then walk to the Hanshin Umeda Station to take a "rapid" train to Nishinomiya?

 

I think it's more about the convenience of not having to transfer all the time (it's a 3 hour nap for most I guess), plus it's probably cheaper by Kintetsu all considered.

[Sacto1985]

*Apparently Kintetsu is very keen to tap the Kobe market for destinations in their network with regularly scheduled limited express services.  Hanshin is more wary, worried about limited express taking up pathings on their main line.

 

Wouldn't it be easier to have Hanshin and Kintetsu make an agreement that in exchange for Hanshin 1000 Series EMU's going all the way east to Kintetsu Nara Station, Kintetsu limited express EMU's can go as far west as Hanshin Sannomiya Station?

[bikkuri bahn]

Wouldn't it be easier to have Hanshin and Kintetsu make an agreement that in exchange for Hanshin 1000 Series EMU's going all the way east to Kintetsu Nara Station, Kintetsu limited express EMU's can go as far west as Hanshin Sannomiya Station?

Kintetsu EMUs already go as far as Hanshin Sannomiya on kaisoku kyuko services. Limited express services have fewer stops than these, and thus require more space between existing pathings, room that may not be there.

 

Just the one way trip from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station would probably take over 3 hours! Wouldn't it be a lot faster to take the Hikari Shinkansen from Nagoya to Shin-Osaka, then take a short JR West train ride to Osaka Station, then walk to the Hanshin Umeda Station to take a "rapid" train to Nishinomiya?

 

Yes, that's likely the case normally.  Typically though, speed is not the factor desired for the typical customer attracted to these services.  As Toni remarked, it's likely the avoidance of bothersome transfers, which gives more time to chat with your mates, eat, and perhaps most importantly, get thoroughly sloshed before the game.

[Sacto1985]

Kintetsu EMUs already go as far as Hanshin Sannomiya on kaisoku kyuko services. Limited express services have fewer stops than these, and thus require more space between existing pathings, room that may not be there.

 

Maybe Kintetsu will make an agreement that Kintetsu trains running on Hanshin tracks to Hanshin Sannomiya only have a headway of once every 90 minutes? That way, it won't interfere with local/rapid trains Hanshin already runs from Hanshin Namba Station west....

[Nick_Burman]

I think it's more about the convenience of not having to transfer all the time (it's a 3 hour nap for most I guess), plus it's probably cheaper by Kintetsu all considered.

 

When I went from Kyoto to Nagoya, I insisted on travelling Kintetsu - for the sake of the experience, of course. By Shinkansen it would have taken 25minutes, by Kintetsu it took almost 2h with two changes en route. You guys should have seen the look of disbelief of the ticket lady at the Limited Express counter at Kintetsu Kyoto..."insane gaijin"... When I told my Tokyo contact what I did, he told me that, when asked for a Nagoya ticket, Kintetsu staff at Kyoto usually tend to gently point passengers towards the JR Shinkansen ticket office...

 

 

Cheers NB

[ToniBabelony]

When I went from Kyoto to Nagoya, I insisted on travelling Kintetsu - for the sake of the experience, of course. By Shinkansen it would have taken 25minutes, by Kintetsu it took almost 2h with two changes en route. You guys should have seen the look of disbelief of the ticket lady at the Limited Express counter at Kintetsu Kyoto..."insane gaijin"... When I told my Tokyo contact what I did, he told me that, when asked for a Nagoya ticket, Kintetsu staff at Kyoto usually tend to gently point passengers towards the JR Shinkansen ticket office...

 

From what I gather, a special Kintetsu two-way direct ticket was ¥10,000 (Nagoya-Kōshien) and a single way Shinkansen-Hanshin ticket (Nagoya-Kyōto-Kōshien) around ¥6,500 (two way: ¥13,000). Not much of a price difference, but still the price of a good meal and a few drinks.

 

If I had the option, I'd go for a full Kintetsu ride. Just for the experience and to ride this special interconnecting train. If there is anything I like about Japanese railways, it's interconnecting trains. xD

[Mudkip Orange]

Just the one way trip from Kintetsu Nagoya Station to Hanshin Nishinomiya Station would probably take over 3 hours!

 

that's the point.