Odakyu Odawara Line

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The Odakyū Odawara Line (小田急小田原線, Odakyū Odawara Sen) is the Odakyū Electric Railway's main section of railway line in Japan. Running between Shinjuku in the west of Tokyo and the city of Odawara, it is a major commuter line and is also well-known for its express services such as the Romance Car train to popular resorts such as Hakone. Some trains goes thru Chiyoda Line from Yoyogi-Uehara and into Joban Line from Ayase to the terminus of Toride.

1 History
2 Romance Car
3 Stations
4 External links

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History

The first part of the line was opened on April 1, 1927.

Currently the section of line between Setagaya-Daita and Kitami is being upgraded from 2 to 4 tracks to improve capacity and separate local and express trains. This work involves moving the tracks to a new, raised viaduct to eliminate level-crossings, which has caused opposition among residents living near the line. Also, work on the section between Yoyogi-Uehara and Setagaya-Daita has not yet begun due to the complexity of construction and difficulties acquiring land around Shimo-Kitazawa, as a result of which this area remains a bottle-neck.

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Romance Car

Image:Odakyu Romance Car Series 50000-2.JPG The Romance Car is Odakyu's name for its limited express services. The name comes from romance seats, two-person seats without separating armrests when one-person seats were a norm. Some of the romance cars are equipped with common seats separating armrests.

Odakyu currently operates several Romance Car services: Hakone and Super Hakone service between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto, Enoshima service between Shinjuku and Enoshima, Asagiri service between Shinjuku and Numazu, Sagami service between Shinjuku and Odawara, and Homeway trains outbound from Shinjuku after 6 PM.

Several types of trains are used:

Series 50000 VSE: The newest and most comfortable Odakyu train, with the driver's compartment elevated over the cabin so as to allow front-row passengers a full view of the railway ahead. VSE trains are primarily used for Super Hakone service, and have cabin attendants who bring food, drinks, and on-board shopping to each passenger's seat during the 80-minute run to Hakone.
Series 30000 EXE: These currently operate most Romance Car services. Most are equipped with vending machines on board, and some also have cabin attendants.
Series 20000 RSE: These are mainly used for Asagiri service where they alternate with the very similar JR-Tokai Type 371. They are the only Odakyu trains with first-class seating, located in "semi-compartments" on the upper deck of two bi-level cars in the center of each train.
Series 10000 LSE and 7000 HiSE: These two types are very closely related, and were once the top grade of Romance Car service. Like the VSE, the driver's compartment is elevated so that passengers at the front of the train have an unimpeded view of the scenery. These trains are currently used for Hakone service, plying the same route as the VSE but stopping more often: the trip to Hakone takes about 90 minutes. Cabin attendants are available for food and drink service, except in the evening.

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