Railway_Digest__February_2018

The experience: The Q train versus Shikoku-
Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari
These two trains, despite operating in different countries, do have
some similarities. Both the Q Train and the Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen
Monogatari, operate by Shikoku Railway Company, were launched in
2017. Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari offers lunch and the Q Train
presently operates a dinner service.
Both use food and drink as the main theme rather that the train ride itself.
Both Japan and Australia have highly-rating cuisine TV shows and both have
a highly developed food culture. The two trains were both launched in 2017
to ride on the back of the popular foodie culture in both countries.
Bellarine Railway is a not-for profit volunteer operated railway.
Shikoku Railway Company, despite been part of the Japan Railway
Group, hasn’t made a profit since privatisation in 1987 and still relies on
government subsidy. This is a contrast to its highly profitable, wealthy,
stock-exchange listed brother companies like East Japan Railway/West
Japan Railway, Shikoku Railway Company and the Bellarine Railway
have more ‘theme trains’ and ‘tourist trains’ compared to most other
tourist and heritage railways. JR Shikoku, operating the smallest mileage
among Japan Railway Group, also has (unusually) more theme trains
and tourist trains with up to 14 tourist trains operating at a time.
Neither the Q Train nor Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari depart
from a major city but both have proven that they have no trouble in filling
seats. Both use very heavily refurbished rolling stock, effectively being
almost a complete rebuild, leaving few ‘heritage’ links to their former
operations. Both trains also do ‘switch back’ crossings to cross another train.
Rolling Stock:
Shikoku-Mannaka-Sennen Monogatari use a Kiha185 express DMU built
by Niigata Transys/Nippon Shayro in 1986. These were built for express
train service and were virtually the last rolling stock designed by the
pre-privatisation Japan National Railways. Cost savings were evident
in manufacturing through the use of recycled materials and spare
parts from bullet trains. They offered simple and basic comfort but
became ‘old technology’ quite early, from 1989, merely three years
after entering traffic, when Shikoku Railway Company introduced the
world’s first diesel tilt train, dramatically cutting travelling time as well
as offering travellers comfortable modern European-style seating.
Being still relatively young and in good mechanical condition, they are
now used for short distance express trains, commuter rapid trains, or
have been heavily rebuilt into tourist trains like the Shikoku-Mannaka-
Sennen Monogatari. This is one of the about 16 Japanese tourist trains,
and the newest mixed dining and tourist train to appear in a trend that
is becoming popular in Japan.
Above: The Shikoku Man Naka
Sennen Monogatari takes a
30 minute break at Kotohira
station, on Friday 6 October
2017. The all timber-built
European-style station is listed
on Japan’s ‘Heritage of Industrial
Modernization’ register.
Right: The Shikoku Man Naka
Sennen Monogatari terminates
at Oboke station. The red livery
of the end car represents the
colours of Autumn. The river
valley it travels through will soon
be turning red from the leaves of
the maple trees en route.
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RAILWAY DIGEST