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THE ROYAL EXPRESS details the itinerary and organization of its Shikoku and Setouchi area service. Four days and three nights of superb scenery and food: “Local train is the best way to see the original scenery.”

Posted on 2023-07-16 by Editor in Chief

JR Shikoku, JR Freight, JR West, and Tokyu will operate “THE ROYAL EXPRESS Shikoku/Setouchi Cruise Train” from January to March 2024 as a project in which the four companies will cooperate. The details of the travel plan were finalized, and a briefing was held on June 30.

THE ROYAL EXPRESS” is an 8-car train, but will be shortened to a 5-car train for operation in Shikoku. The train consists of Car 1 (Gold Class), Car 4 (Kitchen Car), Car 5 (Platinum Class Dining Car), Car 6 (Platinum Class), and Car 8 (Platinum Class). This will be joined by a power car and an electric locomotive.

Sales will be held from July 27 to September 28, 2012, with a drawing to be held after applications are received via the website and mail. For repeat customers who have used THE ROYAL EXPRESS Cruise Plan two or more times in the past, advance sales will be conducted from July 27 to August 10.

The purpose of the tour is to promote tourism and regional revitalization in the Shikoku and Setouchi areas. The tour will run for four days and three nights from Friday to Monday for six consecutive weeks, starting from January 26 to 29, 2024, with a maximum of 15 groups of 30 persons and a minimum of 16 persons per tour. The tour fee will start from 960,000 yen per person based on double occupancy.

For example, the limited express “Shiokaze” takes 2 hours and 40 minutes between Tadotsu and Matsuyama, which takes around 2 hours (Day 2), or 3 hours and 45 minutes between Matsuyama and Imabari, which also takes 30 to 40 minutes (Day 3). However, the train is not designed for fast travel, and it would be better to stop for a longer period of time to enjoy the view from the train windows.

Most of the Yosan Line is a single track, and express trains run on it every hour, so there is not much room in the schedule. Therefore, many trains have to stop for long periods of time to wait or exchange trains, and the time required for the trip is surprisingly long.

In this way, the stage setting could be described as “the Seto Inland Sea and evening calm,” “food unique to the Setouchi area,” and “a famous local inn.

The route starts in Okayama and ends back in Okayama. The train travels between the Seto-ohashi Line and the Yosan Line, but this is due to the fact that the line must be an electrified section because it borrows electric locomotives from JR Freight.

The enthusiasm of the people involved in the project

THE ROYAL EXPRESS Shikoku/Setouchi Cruise Train” will be a joint effort by four companies: Tokyu will operate the train, JR West and JR Freight will pull the locomotives, and JR West (Okayama to Kojima) and JR Shikoku (Kojima to Shikoku Island) will operate the tracks. In addition, there will be local participation. The following is a summary of the comments made by the parties involved at the briefing.

Takahiro Matsuda (General Manager, Cruise Train Promotion Group, Social Infrastructure Business Department, Tokyu Corporation) First, the train began operating on the Izu Kyuko Line, and then, as a new challenge, it was equipped with a power supply car and operated in Hokkaido. When we were thinking about how to expand such experience, we had an opportunity to talk with JR Shikoku about how we could “get the ball rolling” together. If this operation in Shikoku goes well, we would like to continue it, but first we must make the first one a success by turning it into a good product. If we can make it a long-lasting development of local strength. In the past, most of the visitors have been older people in their 70s and 80s, but we would like to attract younger people as well.

Wataru Yamamoto (Chef de Cuisine, Nicho Ryotei, Takamatsu; President, Nicho Co., Ltd.) When the weather is fine, one can dine while enjoying a view of the sea, sky, and islands. I would like to offer dishes that incorporate ingredients that are not often the main focus, dishes that have been handed down from the past, and traditions and culture. I usually think about what Sanuki cuisine is all about. Sanuki has many wonderful things to offer besides udon. I would like to express as many fish and vegetables caught in the Seto Inland Sea as possible.

Mr. Shoji Nagato (Senior Managing Director and General Manager, Railway Business Division, Shikoku Railway Company) I am surprised at the excellent plan. I have lived in Shikoku for a long time, but it is truly dark under the lighthouse. I hope that as many people as possible will come and fully enjoy this event in an effort to revitalize Shikoku.

Shinji Ohgami (Executive Officer, Deputy General Manager of Transportation & Travel Division, Ryobi Holdings Co. This time, the Ryobi Group will be in charge of the buses for local transportation and the ferry at the end of the trip, and we hope to offer a world view that integrates THE ROYAL EXPRESS and the ship.

Mr. Eiji Morioka (Director, Tokyo Office, Kagawa Prefecture) In the Shikoku tourism campaign during the days of Japan National Railways, there was a catch phrase: “Shikoku, the blue country. When I imagine a train with a royal blue body running in this blue country, I get excited and have great expectations. Shikoku also has a culture of hospitality. We have prepared the utmost hospitality, and I hope that as many of you as possible will come.

I am pleased and encouraged by the operation of THE ROYAL EXPRESS at a time when tourism in Ehime Prefecture is being called upon to shift from quantity to quality. Matsuyama is home to Dogo Onsen, said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, as well as Matsuyama Castle, one of the oldest remaining castle towers in Japan. The Shimanami Kaido, which has attracted the attention of cyclists from around the world, offers a view from the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. We hope you will enjoy Ehime’s history, culture, nature, and food. I hope that everyone who participates in the tour will have the best memories of their trip.

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