Marine Liner

The Marine Liner (マリンライナー, Marin Rainā) is a rapid train service in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) since April 1988. The Marine Liner links Okayama, the capital city of Okayama Prefecture and a major station on the Sanyō Shinkansen, with Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, via the Great Seto Bridge. Operating at a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), the journey takes approximately 52–63 minutes.

Marine Liner

The Marine Liner 41 service to Takamatsu passing Kimi Station, led by a JR Shikoku 5000 series EMU
Overview
Service type	Rapid
First service	April 1988
Current operator(s)	JR West, JR Shikoku
Route
Line(s) used	Seto-Ohashi Line
Technical
Rolling stock	JR West 223-5000 series and JR Shikoku 5000 series EMUs
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)

Overview

Since 1 October 2003, the Marine Liner has been operated by JR West 223-5000 series EMU trainsets. The first car on most Takamatsu-bound trains is a JR Shikoku 5000 series bi-level cab car with reserved seating. Previously, 213 series EMUs were used.

From Okayama to Takamatsu, all Marine Liner trains stop at Chayamachi, Kojima and Sakaide. Most trains also stop at either Senoo or Hayashima, or both. Some early morning and late evening trains make additional stops at intermittent stations on the Seto-Ohashi and Yosan lines.

As it is classified as a "Rapid" (快速かいそく, kaisoku) service, only a standard fare is charged for using the Marine Liner. It currently takes about one hour to cover the entire journey. A passenger may upgrade to reserved seating, in both standard seats or Green Car seats for an additional fee.

A crew change for the train driver and conductor occurs at Kojima, the boundary station between the two operating railways.

Route

Side view of Marine Liner 5000 series bilevel car at Takamatsu Station, May 2007

The Marine Liner runs over two sections known collectively as the Seto-Ohashi Line. The Okayama-Kojima section is operated by JR West¹, and the Kojima-Takamatsu section is operated by JR Shikoku².

¹Portions run over the JR Uno Line
²Portions run over the JR Yosan Line

Stations

Key (as of December 2006)

■	All trains stop
▲	Most trains stop
♦	Few trains stop
—-	Pass/No trains stop

Station		Service
Okayama	岡山おかやま	■
Ōmoto	大元おおもと	♦
Bizen-Nishiichi	備前びぜん西市さいち	♦
Senoo	妹尾せのお	▲
Bitchū-Mishima	備中びっちゅう箕島みしま	—-
Hayashima	早島はやしま	▲
Kuguhara	久々原くぐはら	—-
Chayamachi	茶屋ちゃや町まち	■
Uematsu	植松うえまつ	♦
Kimi	木見きみ	♦
Kaminochō	上かみの町ちょう	♦
Kojima	児島こじま	■
Great Seto Bridge
Sakaide	坂出さかいで	■
Yasoba	八十場やそば	—-
Kamogawa	鴨川かもがわ	♦
Sanuki-Fuchū	讃岐さぬき府中ふちゅう	—-
Kokubu	国分こくぶ	♦
Hashioka	端岡はしおか	♦
Kinashi	鬼無きなし	♦
Kōzai	香西こうざい	—-
Takamatsu	高松たかまつ	■

Formations

Services are formed as 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-car formations as shown below with car 1 at the Takamatsu end. All cars are no smoking. Most of the trains use 5-car formations.

• Green: Green class (first class)
• White: Standard class
• G (green class), R (standard class): Reserved seats
• NR (standard class only): Non-reserved seats

1	2
223-5000 series
NR	NR

1	2	3
5000 series
G	NR	NR
R

1	2	3	4	5
5000 series			223-5000 series
G	NR	NR	NR	NR
R

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
5000 series			223-5000 series		223-5000 series
G	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
R

History

The Marine Liner service was introduced in April 1988, using 3-car 213 series EMUs formed as three-car, six-car, or nine-car formations.

External links

• JR West Marine Liner information (in Japanese)
• JR Shikoku Marine Liner information (in Japanese)