Japan’ s iconic line inspection bullet train, known as “Yellow Doctor”, announced that it will be retired as of January 2025, its operator announced on Thursday, June 13. To celebrate this farewell, symbolic events and activities will be held.
Japan’s iconic yellow bullet train retires
This famous train, famed for its yellow color, has been instrumental in maintaining the high safety and speed standards of the rail services in the country of the country’s rail services. All fans will have the opportunity to bid farewell to this “special shinkansen” through a series of events organized to honor its legacy.
[post_relacionado]In addition, these events will be special, due to the fact that “its operation schedule is not disclosed”, and because of this, the Yellow Doctor has been considered a “unicorn” among Japan’s bullet trains. This characteristic has led to the popular belief that seeing the Yellow Doctor brings happiness to those lucky enough to encounter him.
The company that operates this inspection train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, Central Japan Railway, has decided not to build a successor to the iconic yellow train. Now, they have decided that from 2027, the inspection of tracks and overhead wires will be performed by N700S bullet trains, which will be equipped with advanced testing and observation equipment.
Commemorations and farewells
On the other hand, West Japan Railway, which operates another Yellow Doctor train on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, has also announced that it plans to retire its unit around 2027. The current Yellow train, identified as Class 923, was introduced in 2001, succeeding an earlier version. This train operates between Tokyo and Hakata stations approximately once every 10 days, ensuring that the tracks and shinkansen systems are in optimal condition.
To commemorate the retirement of the Yellow Doctor, JR Central plans to hold a series of events, including train wash displays and the opportunity for the public to ride the train. In addition, commemorative souvenirs will be sold, allowing train enthusiasts to preserve a piece of Japanese railway history.
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Source: The Mainichi
Photo: Central Japan Railway