Diary of a rail fan in Kansai,Japan(Ver.2)

About world's rail news, general news, my train pictures, and travel diary)

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World's longest Distance between neighboring stations

Here is the list of the longest distance between neighboring stations.
(Stations in US and Canada are excluded from the list. That's because it's difficult to find out intermediate freight stations on each line)

※The section below is under editting

Rank Country Line Section Distance
Ref US California Zephyr Salt Lake City~Elko 423km
1st China Xian-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line Huyi(鄠邑)~Xinchangjie(新场街) 90km
China Harbin–Dalian high-speed railway Dehuixi(德惠西)~Changchunxi(长春西) 84km
China Xian-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line Jianmenguan(剑门关)~Qingchuan(青川) 82km
China Xian-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line Qingchuan(青川)~Jiangyoubei(江油北) 80km
China Xian-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line Xinji(新集)~Ningqiangnan(宁强南) 80km
Japan Hokkaido Shinkansen Kikonai(木古内)~Okutsugaru-Imabetsu(奥津軽いまべつ) 74.8km
Switzerland Gotthard Line Altdorf~Biasca 69.2km
Japan Tokaido Shinkansen Maibara(米原)~Kyoto(京都) 67.7km
China Xian-Chengdu Passenger Dedicated Line Minle(民乐)~Zhangyexi (张掖西) 64km
China Harbin–Dalian high-speed railway Changchunxi(长春西)~Gongzhulingnan(公主岭南) 63km
UK/France High Speed 1 Folkestone Shuttle Terminal~Calais Shuttle Terminal Eurotunnel Shuttle 62.231km

Why do they revive colored aircrafts?

18 of the coolest aircraft paint jobs you'll ever see
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/best-aircraft-livery-design/index.html

I've already known that aircrafts without decoration are saving cost, because they are lighter than conventional aircrafts with paintings, and then needs less fuel.
So, LCCs like Jet Star have adopted aircrafts with minimum paintings.
But, recently, they seem to add decorations to attract tourists.
Though I don't know whether it's really more cost-effective than saving fuel, unique paintings entertain us.

Why it can be legitimate?

Sweden Legalizes Child Marriages For Immigrants
https://dailyeb.com/2017/10/21/sweden-legalizes-child-marriages-for-immigrants/

It's a rare example which shows the phrase "When you are in Roma, do as the Romans do." doesn't work.
I guess it's not good to allow them to marry, because it may cause many contradictions. For example, if a female immigrant bears a child, she or her husband will have to work to feed the child.
But, it would be illegal for them to work ,and it's difficult to change the law, because of Convention on the Rights of the Child.
So, it would be better to define new relationship that restricts some activities allowed in marriage

Why do they protest against tram?

Utsunomiya light rail line breaks ground
http://www.metro-report.com/news/news-by-region/asia-pacific-ex-china/single-view/view/utsunomiya-light-rail-line-breaks-ground.html

Those who has been protesting against construction of this light rail are often taken up on Japanthe SNS.
Their opinions are "Current bus service sufficiently satisfies local residents. Construction of the new tram line wastes our tax."
But, when we consider that most of the tracks are segregated from vehicle lanes, trams will be superior to current bus service in terms of punctuality. And, there will be much more transportation capacity than bus.

Why there won't be a long distance train across the strait?

Test running begins on European Marmaray alignment
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/test-running-begins-on-european-marmaray-alignment.html

I wonder if long distance trains will run through the trans-Bosporus railway tunnel. If it's possible, it will be one of the biggest railway history in Turkey. It means there can be trains between Europe and Middle East via Turkey.
But, there won't be any passenger train as such, judging from the fact that Orient Express suspended its operation.

Walking around Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta

The station will be an intermediate station on Sotetsu-JR through Line and Sotetsu-Tokyu through Line.
The former line is estimated to inaugurate in 2019, the latter is in 2022.

So, the station is being constructed.
I visited the construction site today.
Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018
Entire facility

Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018 (No.2)
Platforms are being built underground. It may be under white concrete on the picture.

Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018 (No.3)
Entire station seen from East side beyond JR freight line. Sotetsu-JR through Line will be connected with it at northern part of the station.

JR Freight DE10 series in Hazawa.Sta, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018
Diesel Locomotive was preparing for pulling freight.

JR Freight EF210 series in Hazawa.Sta, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018
The platform on the right side of the picture is Hazawa Station, which is dedicated for freight and has been in service ever since 1979.

Hazawa Freight Station Bus Stop in  in Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan /May 28, 2018
The nearest bus stop is named "Hazawa Freight Station". But, it will be renamed as Hazawa-Yokohama-Kokudai.Sta.

Why are they exotic?

Fascinating photos offer a rare look at Japan's past
edition.cnn.com

The word "exotic" seems to be interesting.
In the United States, it is used for Oriental things including Japanese style like the word referred to in the article.
On the other hand, in Japan, the English word is also used as Japanese word. But, its meaning is different from original one.
If you see Japanese citizen saying "Exotic", it means South East Asian, South Asian,or Middle Eastern style.

Though I don't know how the word became common in Japan, it might be used as the word meaing Oriental things except for ones which are familiar with Japanese.
So, to maintain the meaing of "foreign" and "Oriental", the word would have meant "South East Asian, South Asian,or Middle Eastern style".