Japan
The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese phrase tokubetsu kyūkō (特別急行?); literally "special express"; often abbreviated tokkyū (特急?). Although some operators translate the word differently, this section is about tokubetsu kyūkō trains in Japan regardless of the translation by the operators. This term also includes terms with Limited Express in them, such as "Rapid Limited Express" (快速特急, Kaisoku Tokkyū?).
In comparison with ordinary express trains, limited express trains generally use better coaches, travel faster and stop at fewer stations. Many limited-express trains include reserved seating, dining cars or food and beverage carts, and Green (first class) cars. Travel on limited-express trains costs more than travel on ordinary expresses, but is the most typical style of inter-city rail travel in Japan.
Until 1972, the Hikari on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen was officially a chōtokkyū (超特急?), that is, "beyond limited express" or "super express", and was priced higher than the Kodama, the limited express on the same line. Presently all Shinkansen services are officially limited express, but are usually referred to as "super express" in English.
The table below summarizes the limited express on major Japanese railways (JR Group and 16 major private railways minus two major private railways that do not operate limited express, which are Sagami Railway (Sōtetsu) and Tokyo Metro).
| Railway | Train type | Surcharge | Picture (example) |
Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | ||||
| JR Group | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes | ||
| Tobu Railway Main Line | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes | Limited express (free of charge) on Tōbu Tōjō Line was discontinued on 13 June 2008. | |
| Seibu Railway | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes | ||
| Keisei Electric Railway | Limited Express | Kaisoku Tokkyū, Tokkyū |
No | Skyliner and City Liner services are classed higher than limited express and are charged. | |
| Access Express | Akusesu Tokkyū | ||||
| Commuter Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū | ||||
| Keio Corporation | Special Express | Tokkyū | No | ||
| Semi Special Express | Juntokkyū | ||||
| Odakyu Electric Railway | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes | Some Romancecar limited express services operate on the Tokyo Metro network (one of the two operators of the 16 major private railways that do not offer limited express services at all). | |
| Tokyu Corporation | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No | ||
| Commuter Limited Express (also called Commuter Express) |
Tsūkin Tokkyū | ||||
| Keikyu | Limited Express | Kaitoku, Tokkyū |
No | Keikyu Wing service is classed higher than limited express and is charged. | |
| Nagoya Railroad | μSKY | Myū-Sukai | Yes | Trains consist of first class cars (charged) only. | |
| Rapid Limited Express | Kaisoku Tokkyū | Some trains | Some trains consist of regular cars only. | ||
| Limited Express | Tokkyū | ||||
| Kintetsu Corporation | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes | ||
| Nankai Electric Railway | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Some trains | Rapi:t, Koya, and Rinkan services consist of reserved seat cars (charged) only. | |
| Keihan Electric Railway | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No | ||
| Hankyu Corporation | Limited Express | Tokkyū, Tsūkin Tokkyū, Kaisoku Tokkyū |
No | ||
| Hanshin Electric Railway | Limited Express | Tokkyū, Chokutsū Tokkyū, Kukan Tokkyū, |
No | ||
| Nishi-Nippon Railroad | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No | ||
Read more about this topic: Limited Express
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