In addition, if you have a ticket for the Japanese Grand Prix, you will have priority entry to the Thursday Pit Walk and Thursday Straight Walk on April 4, 15 minutes earlier than usual. Reservations were first made on March 14 through JR Tokai Tours’ “EX Destination Reservations,” and although the application period was short for a recruitment-type tour, approximately 290 people participated and enjoyed the chartered train trip.
In addition to Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki, Tomonori Nojiri, Tsugio Matsuda, Nobuharu Matsushita, and Ukyo Sasahara, Pierre Kitagawa, Kenichi Tanaka, and announcer Hiroaki Sasagawa, who will serve as play-by-play announcer and MC, will be on board the train. In addition to a talk show using the onboard broadcasting equipment, there will be time for commemorative photos and autographs.
This event train is designed to “reduce CO2 emissions by reducing the number of visitors by car, and to reduce the environmental impact of the Grand Prix.
This is an initiative to promote the “2024 FIA F1 World Championship Series MSC CRUISES Japanese Grand Prix Race” (F1 Japanese Grand Prix) to be held this weekend at Suzuka Circuit, utilizing the Tokaido Shinkansen’s “Charter Car Package,” which allows the train to be chartered on a one-car basis, This time, the entire train was chartered as a dedicated train.
More than just a paddock walk!
The charter train was operated as “Group No. 539” (9539A) using a special train departing Tokyo Station at 19:12 and arriving at Nagoya at 20:48. The new “N700S” train, which is not in charge when operated as “Nozomi No. 457” on Fridays, was assigned to this train.
The schedule progressed minute by minute as the train departed from Tokyo Station. The group was divided into three groups: Nakajima & Suzuki, Nojiri & Matsuda, and Matsushita & Sasahara, and they visited the cars where the fans boarded. Each group spent about 7 minutes in each car signing autographs and taking commemorative photos, and during the free time, a special talk show was held in a special studio set up in the green car.
During the guest events, there were plenty of activities such as sampling Red Bull and Heineken, and selling DAZN goods before they go on sale to the general public, making the one and a half hour ride to Nagoya Station a blink of an eye. The participants were all smiles as they disembarked from the train.
Interviewed inside the car, Honda Mobilityland President Takeshi Saito stated that the event was planned as part of the company’s efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in order to become carbon neutral by 2030. He explained that 90% of the CO2 emissions associated with the F1 event are actually caused by the transportation of spectators, and that the event was planned with the hope of “encouraging spectators to use public transportation as much as possible.
As for the scene inside the train after its departure from Tokyo Station, he said, “I think it is extremely wonderful to have F1 enthusiasts on board and to actually be with former F1 drivers and current racers, and I think everyone’s smiles are extremely wonderful. I am very happy too,” he smiled, “F1 (Suzuka Grand Prix) is coming up this weekend, and I get the feeling that people are already excited about it.
Just before the train arrived at Nagoya Station, Director Nakajima and Director Suzuki were invited for an interview. Director Nakajima commented on the charter train, “I wondered how it would turn out since it was my first attempt, but it didn’t take long. The wide range of customers, from young to old, reminded me of the old days after a long time,” he said with a smile. Since he was in a position slightly removed from his main job, he seemed to be able to relax and enjoy the time with his fans.
Director Suzuki, on the other hand, said, “We are very happy to see so many enthusiastic customers. The enthusiastic response makes it fun for us. We feel like we are at a big event. It is also nice to see a father who has reached the age of 60 with his whole family. He told us that he used to watch us when we were active. Unlike the usual talk shows, which are held for a very limited time, the train ride was “a lot of fun because everyone got together and got excited,” he recalled.
© Source travel watch
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