Japanese Trains: Who Runs Them and How a Rapid Differs from an Express

Six JR Companies and Private Railways: Who Runs Japanese Trains

On April 1, 1987, the state-owned Japanese National Railways (国鉄) were privatized and split into the JR group: six passenger companies — Hokkaido, East, Central, West, Shikoku, and Kyushu — and one freight company. Each passenger JR holds its part of the country and its own network of lines, including the Shinkansen. Alongside them operate private railways (私鉄). The largest of them, which the industry classifies as "major" (大手私鉄), today number sixteen companies — Kintetsu, Tobu, Odakyu, Tokyu, and others, each with its own slice of the suburbs around Tokyo, Osaka, or Nagoya.

Why a Private Railway Has Its Own Department Store

• The model in which a railway builds not only tracks but also housing along the line, a department store by the station, and an amusement park at the terminal station was invented by Kobayashi Ichizō, the founder of the Hankyu railway. The built-up suburbs created passengers for the railway itself, while the shops and theaters brought in income beyond ticket sales.
• Major private railways adopted this model one after another: today almost every one has its own department store near its main station, and some also manage residential complexes along their lines.
• JR companies also have station department stores, but they appeared only after the 1987 privatization — private railways arrived at this model several decades earlier.

普通, 快速, 急行, 特急: One Track, Different Stops

The word "train" in Japanese depends on how often it stops. 普通 (futsu) is a local train that stops at every station. 快速 (kaisoku) is a rapid that skips some small stations. 急行 (kyūkō) is an express that stops even less often. 特急 (tokkyū), "limited express," is the fastest type, and almost always charges a separate surcharge (特急料金) on top of the regular ticket; a surcharge is sometimes charged for 急行 too, depending on the company. All four types run on the same tracks — just with different sets of stops, and which train is arriving can be seen on the platform display and on the train itself.

How to Choose the Right Train by Looking at the Display

Pushers, Women-Only Cars, and the Last Train

During rush hour, at the platforms of major stations, 押し屋 (oshiya) work — employees or students with part-time jobs who gently press into the car the passengers stuck in the doors. Without this, the doors would not close and the train could not depart on schedule. The practice is still alive today, though it is not used everywhere, only where the crush during rush hour is especially strong.

What a Women-Only Car Is and Why the Day Ends with the Last Train

• Women-only cars (女性専用車両) as a modern practice appeared in December 2000 on the Keio Line: at first it was a trial late train from Shinjuku. Other companies adopted the format, and today such cars operate during certain hours, usually morning and evening rush hours.
• 終電 (shūden) is the last train of the day; after it, the only way home is by taxi, and part of the nightlife in bars and karaoke places is arranged so as to fit in before that hour or wait for the first morning train.
• The punctuality of JR East and similar companies is not a myth: delays on some lines are measured and published in seconds. In November 2017, the operator of the Tsukuba Express line apologized because a train left Minami-Nagareyama Station 20 seconds ahead of schedule — a case often retold inaccurately, attributed to a completely different company.

電車 and the Character 電: How to Say "Train" in Japanese

電 — значение: electricity, electric — онъёми: デン — 13 штрих(ов). 電 — "electricity": the same character begins the word 電車 (densha), "electric train," and 電話 (denwa), "telephone."

What 電車 Literally Means and How It Differs from 列車

電車 is read densha and is made up of 電 "electricity" and 車 "carriage, vehicle" — literally "electric carriage." This is what urban and suburban trains on electric traction are called. But not every train is a 電車: long-distance and non-electrified trains are called by the broader word 列車 (ressha), simply "train." Calling a long-distance express an "electric train" is imprecise, even if it also runs on electric power.

Write 電 along the guides — the character for "electricity," which begins the word 電車, "electric train."

FAQ

How are Japanese trains organized and who operates them?

The railways in Japan are not a single agency. Since April 1, 1987, the former state-owned Japanese National Railways have been split into six passenger JR companies — Hokkaido, East, Central, West, Shikoku, and Kyushu — and one freight company. Alongside them operate sixteen major private railways such as Kintetsu, Tokyu, and Hankyu, each with its own slice of the suburbs and often its own department store by the station.

How does a rapid train differ from an express?

Both types stop less often than a local, but an express (急行, kyūkō) skips more stations than a rapid (快速, kaisoku). Even faster is the "limited express" (特急, tokkyū), for which almost always a separate surcharge is charged on top of the regular ticket; a surcharge for 急行 also occurs depending on the company. All types run on the same tracks — only the set of stops differs.

What words are used for "train" in Japanese?

A train in general is 列車 (ressha), while an urban or suburban electric train is 電車 (densha), literally "electric carriage." These are different words: 列車 fits any train, including long-distance and non-electrified, while 電車 is only for an urban train on electric traction. The types by speed — 普通, 快速, 急行, 特急 — specify how often the train stops.

Is it true that Japanese trains never run late?

Mostly yes: delays on some JR East lines are measured and published in seconds. But there are slip-ups here too — for example, in November 2017 the operator of the Tsukuba Express line apologized because a train left Minami-Nagareyama Station 20 seconds ahead of schedule. This case is often retold inaccurately, attributed to another company.

Why are pushers needed on Japanese platforms?

押し屋 (oshiya) are employees or students with part-time jobs who during rush hour at major stations gently press into the car the passengers stuck in the doors. Otherwise the doors simply would not close and the departure would be delayed. The practice exists not on all lines, only where the crush during rush hour is especially strong.

What is a women-only car and when does it operate?

女性専用車両 are women-only cars; they operate during certain hours, usually morning and evening rush hours. As a modern practice they appeared in December 2000 on the Keio Line — at first as a trial late train from Shinjuku — and then other companies across the country adopted the format.

Sources

• Kotobank: dictionary entry for 電車
• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism: on the reform of Japanese National Railways
• ja.wikipedia.org: article "Japanese National Railways"