Odakyu Electric Railway Ltd. Express “Romancecar MSE”

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– a Express Train Operate through a Subway Line –
As the first limited express train with designated seats in a subway line in Japan, this design project combines the Romancecar of Odakyu Electric Railway and the Tokyo Metro transportation network to become a touchstone as a project which presents new possibilities for the future form of railway transportation. The mutual direct operation between Odakyu Electric Railway and Tokyo Metro was already opened in 1978, but we aim to further increase the added value of routes via the introduction of limited express trains and to make the railroad business more seamless.
The ROMANCECAR MSE functions as a commuting limited express train on weekdays, and as a sightseeing limited express headed from the East of the Tokyo toward Hakone on weekends. A design has been realized which is appropriate for both business use and sightseeing, which satisfies the safety standards for subway traveling, and with an exterior that inherits the characteristics of the Romancecar while also having appeal as something new.
Odakyu Electric Railway Ltd. Express ROMANCECAR MSE
– a Express Train Operate through a Subway Line –
Type
Limited Express Train
Client
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Status
2005-07 Design
2006-07 Manufacture
2008 March, Commercial operation started
Total Length
10-car set, 200.44m
(6-car set, 120.22m + 4-car set, 80.22m)
Body Structure
Extruded Alumium
Design
Noriaki Okabe Architecture Network
Production Design and manufacture
Nippon sharyo, LTD
Collaborators
Tomohisa Okamoto (sign, graphic)
Awards
*2008 The Good Design Award
*2008 The 10th Brunel Award (Commendation)
*2009 The Blue Ribbon Award (Japan Railfan Club)
Reference
*Shinkenchiku: 2008-5, Shinkenchiku-sha, Japan
*R&M: 2008 No.3, Japan Railway Rollingstock & Machinery Assosiation, Japan
*R&M: 2008 No.4, Japan Railway Rollingstock & Machinery Assosiation, Japan
*Nikkei Design: 2008 3 No.249, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc., Japan, ISSN: 0913-3429
*Ming Pao Weekly: 2008-01-12-2044, One Media Group Limited., Hong Kong
*Japan Railfan Magazine: 2008-1 No.561, Koyusha Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Japan Railfan Magazine: 2008-8 No.568, Koyusha Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Railway Journal: 2008 1 No.495, Railway Journal Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Rail Magazine:2008-1 No.292, Neko Publishing Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Nikkei Trendy: 2008 8 No.281, Nikkei Business Publications, Inc., Japan
*The Railway Pictorial: 2008-1 No.798, Denkisha Kenkyukai Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Tetsudo Daiya joho: 2007-12 No284, Kotsushinbunsha Co.,Ltd., Japan
*Train: 2007-12 No.396, Eriei Co.,Ltd., Japan
*ecoms: 2008 No.23, SUS Corporation, Japan
Photograph
Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.: No.03-07, 13, 14, 18
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