East Japan Railway unveils Japans first hybrid tourist train

train.jpg
East Japan Railway (JR East) unveiled Japans first hybrid tourist train in Tokyo on Sept. 18. Powered by a combination of diesel engine and lithium storage battery, the hybrid train has 10 percent better fuel economy and about 60 percent less nitrogen oxide emissions compared with conventional trains, officials said. The Resort View Furusato — which will make one round trip a day between JR Nagano Station on the Shinonoi Line and Minami-Otari Station on the Oito Line — is Japan’s first hybrid train designed for sightseeing purposes.


Passengers will be able to enjoy views of Japan’s Hida mountain range, known colloquially as the Northern Alps, from an observation room, and monitors will show the view from the front of the train.