On October 14th, there will be hosting an experiential ride event on the Sanyo Shinkansen using the popular “Doctor Yellow,” known for its role as a medical inspection train on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.
Doctor Yellow is an electric comprehensive inspection vehicle used to examine the track facilities of the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. It conducts inspections at speeds similar to the “Nozomi” shinkansen approximately once every ten days and performs monthly inspections on the sidings at a slower pace.
Thanks to its distinctive yellow color, it has gained popularity as the “Shinkansen that brings happiness when you see it.”
Whenever Doctor Yellow is exhibited at vehicle bases or factories for public viewings, crowds gather immediately to take commemorative photos.
The test ride event for Doctor Yellow was first organized by JR Tokai (Central Japan Railway Company) in March 2023 on the Tokaido Shinkansen, traveling between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. Due to its tremendous success, JR Tokai hosted another experiential ride event in August.
Now, JR West Japan is organizing an experiential ride event on the Sanyo Shinkansen, running between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.
The event will be conducted in a tour format, departing from Shin-Osaka Station at around 5:00 PM and arriving at Hakata Station around 8:50 PM. Key highlights of the tour include photography opportunities on the platform and inside the train, as well as visits to the track inspection room, electrical inspection room, and the pantograph observation dome. Participants will also receive commemorative souvenirs like original headcovers.
The tour is limited to 50 participants, with fees set at 35,000 yen for adults (junior high school age and older) and 28,000 yen for children (ages 1 to elementary school). Participation is exclusive to WESTER members, and applications can be submitted through a dedicated page within the “tabiwa by WESTER” smartphone app, with a maximum of 3 individuals per group.
The application period runs from September 19th, 2023, at 10:00 AM to September 22nd, 2023, at 5:59 PM. Selection is not first-come, first-served but rather through a lottery system, with results communicated via email starting from September 27th, 2023.
The Doctor Yellow experiential ride event on the Sanyo Shinkansen will take place during nighttime hours, offering unique experiences that are only possible at night.
