The 8000 series started service in 1969 and for about 40 years served the people of Tokyo and Yokohama. These series of trains were the first to be digital allowing the 8000 series trains to run a tighter schedule and also was 20 meters in length; much longer than the commuter trains during it’s time.

On January 7th, the gradual replacement of the 8000 series on the Toyoko line, with the more advanced 5050 series, was finally completed. However, you can still see the 8000 series in operation on the Oimachi line for a short time before they too are replaced this year with the newer advanced trains. Tokyu Corporation has donated 40 8000 series cars to the Izukyu Corporation, a subsidiary of Tokyu Corporation, in Shizuoka Prefecture. Also, 24 cars have been donated to Indonesian Rail, in Indonesia.

The first YouTube video below shows the last run of the 8000 series with loyal fans and commuters yelling “arigato” or thank you, as the 8000 series pulls away from it’s last station in Yokohama. The second video is it’s replacement, the 5050 series.

Now, I am a big fan of public transportation, especially the efficiency of Japan Rail. Some people might consider me a train “otaku” but it’s not the trains that get me excited; it’s the whole efficiency of it. I was in Europe a couple of years ago and I was not impressed with their service, especially, how like in the US, trains not being on time. The loyal commuters in the first video might seem a little crazy saying farewell to a train but I guess if you consider that they’ve ridden the train a couple times a day for the entire commuting life and 99.9% were on time then I can understand the emotion…..not to say I would do it…….just defending the crazies….

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Japan Shinkansen

Taiwan Shinkansen

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1. JR East, JR West & JR Tokai have teamed up to provide a ticket-less shinkansen service beginning next year on March 29th. This service will initially be available from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka station however, from summer of ‘09 it will be available on the Sanyo shinkansen line, from Shin-Osaka to Hakata station in Fukuoka. In order to participate in this service you must pay an annual fee of 1050 yen to become an IC Card member. JR East’s Mobile Suica members who participate in the service , will not require an IC Card as they can continue to use their phones. Also membership will provide their customers about a 7 to 8% discount on their tickets. Therefore, a ticket from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka of 14, 050 yen will be discounted to 13,000 yen, a savings of 1050 yen.
2. Starting from March of ‘08 all Nozomi and Hikari shinkansen services will stop at Tokyo’s Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama station.
3. Prepaid PASSNET cards will no longer be available from January 10th, ‘08. The service will be replaced entirely by PASMO. However, you can use existing PASSNET cards up until about March 14. You may also choose to get reimbursed or carry-over funds to your PASMO account. Unlike PASSNET, you will be able to use your PASMO card not only on private metro lines, but also on all JR lines. In addition, PASMO cards can also be used on bus services and act as electronic money at member stores. Since PASMO’s inauguration of March of this year, PASSNET users have shrunk to only about 10%.

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Disney Playhouse Choo-Choo Soul’s - Bullet Train Video

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