First post on the thread, here goes... With Union Works now working on the first Japanese rail route for TSW4, thus also introducing Cape Gauge track and rolling stock into the game, a line I would love to see, in the unlikely event that someone important notices this post, is the Seto-Ohashi Line operated by JR West which spans from Okayama Prefecture to Kagawa Prefecture across the Seto Inland Sea. The Route Translated: "Rapid Service 'Marine Liner' Station stops posted in red from north to southeast: Okayama, Chayamachi, Kojima, Sakaide, and Takamatsu. The line spans 71.8km and links the big cities of Okayama, capital city of Okayama Prefecture and a large rail hub for the Shinkansen and other local train lines, to another large city, Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture. It is a major route of connection between the main island of Japan, Honshu, and the island of Shikoku, and as a result it sees a lot of varied train traffic and services; after all, it is the only line of tracks that connect the two islands. Starting in the bustling city of Okayama, platforms 6,7, and 8, the journey would take trains out, up, and curving away from Okayama Station as they depart from the downtown area onto the Seto-Ohashi Line, passing offices, apartments, warehouses, and houses, on the double-tracked elevated section that cuts through til the Southern Ward of Okayama City, touching back down onto the ground level in the industrial regions of Bizen-Nishiichi and Senoo. In this stretch alone, there are several single track points such as the inclines to and from the elevated track section and the bridge across the Sasagase River. The single-tracked bridge over the Sasagase River, Minami Ward, Okayama. (篠ケ瀬川橋、岡山市南区） After passing the industrial areas on the outskirts of the city at Senoo, the landscape shifts to farmland. There are rice and grain fields stretching out as far as the eye can see all along the line from Senoo until Chayamachi. Also along the way, the tracks switch between a double-tracked and single-tracked mainline at various points which force local trains to periodically stop and wait for passing rapid-service and express trains to pass. A single-tracked section out by Hayashima Station, along the Seto-Ohashi Line. After passing through the countryside, the tracks will finally split into a double-tracked main and climb into another elevated track section in Chayamachi, an intermediate transfer terminal for trains splitting off to the Uno Port Line. There are three tracks at Chayamachi, with the center one being the line for Uno Port. It will descend and curve out from under the elevated sections to cut towards the port town. From there, the line will cut through a range of mountains and pass a few more small stations before arriving into Kojima, a city world-renown for Japanese jean production, at the edge of Okayama Prefecture on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea; it is also another main terminal on the line that all trains stop at. Departing Kojima, trains will ascend and cross over the lower deck of the Great Seto Bridge, the longest multi-spanned suspension bridge in the world, and the only bridge strong enough to support a train line between Honshu and Shikoku, enroute to Kagawa Prefecture. The tracks run beneath the highway and the bridge connects via a few small intermediary islands. View of the lower level train tracks on the first span of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge View of the tracks on the lower deck An aerial view of the full length of the Great Seto Bridge, and its three spans. Fun Fact: The Great Seto Bridge is a 'sister bridge' with the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (even though to me, a native of the Bay Area, it reminds me more of the SF-Oakland Bay Bridge). Transiting the bridge lands us in Sakaide, Kagawa Prefecture, another large industrial area. We are greeted by oil refineries, and container yards. As expected as JR Freight has a large container and freight yard in this area. Also here, some express trains coming from Okayama, split off the Seto-Ohashi Line and head westward into Shikoku towards Kochi and Matsuyama. The line also, since Kojima, has been called the Yosan Line. We will continue on the Yosan Line towards our final stop at Takamatsu Terminal. We re-enter the country side as the line cuts in between mountainous terrain, all the while passing more farms, countryside neighborhoods, and small inaka (countryside; rural) stations, before making the final approach into Takamatsu. Just before Takamatsu is another railyard where rolling stock and locomotives are maintained and prepped for service. The railyard just outside of Takamatsu City. And just after passing the car yard, we arrive at our final stop: Takamatsu Terminal. Here, our rapid service train would be turned around for the return service to Okayama. Stations Along the Route: Seto-Ohashi Line: - Okayama - Omoto - Bizen-Nishiichi - Senoo - Bicchu-Mishima - Hayashima - Kuguhara - Chayamachi - Uematsu - Kimi - Kaminocho - Kojima Yosan Line: - Utazu - Sakaide - Yasoba - Kamogawa - Sanuki-Fuchu - Kokubu - Hashioka - Kinashi - Kozai - Takamatsu Rolling Stock: Rapid Service Marine Liner The primary rolling stock to be used would be the 223/5000-series "Marine Liner". This train operates the rapid-service connection from Okayama to Takamatsu station. Owned and operated by JR Shikoku, the train is a combination of single-level JR 223-series cars, led in the Takamatsu direction by a 5000-series double-decker unit. Typically, trains are run in 5-car formations, but can see 7-car formations during the early morning commute to Okayama. On the last train of the night, departing Okayama during the 11th hour, the Marine Liner is reduced to two cars, being made up of two 223-series cars. JNR 115-series ; Local Stopping Service The other common set of passenger rolling stock that appears on this line is the 115-series EMU; a classic set of rolling stock still in operations since their debut in 1968 and inherited by the JR groups after the dissolvement of the Japan National Railway. These are just one of the many venerable vintage train types still in operation in JR West's network, and are still a very common sight in Okayama as of 2024, although newer modern rolling stock is starting to appear in growing frequency. These trains stop at every station along the line, and are formed in 3-car and 4-car multiple units. In the early morning commute to Okayama, they can be formed in 7-car trains, combining the 3 and 4-car units. Commonly they are painted in a solid yellow scheme, which embodies Okayama's moniker, "The Country of Sunshine", but a few units wear the green and orange 'Shonan' paint scheme, used by express and rapid services of the JNR around Tokyo. These operate from Okayama until Kojima. A 115-series EMU in its typical yellow scheme, native to the Okayama region. The trucks and plow assemblies depicted here are fresh and painted light grey, however older units also have this area a dark and dirty rusted brown or black. A 115-series set wearing its Shonan Color scheme. These are almost always 3-car sets. Fun Fact: Back in the day, when JNR was looking for a color scheme for their express and rapid service trains, they needed something distinct and eye catching, for safety and appeal reasons. Before the cream and burgundy they would later adopt, this Shonan Scheme was adopted. Remind you of anything you've seen before? The JNR's workers were directly inspired by the pumpkin scheme of the Great Northern Railway when adapting this scheme, as they found it striking at difficult for passengers, pedestrians, and motorists to miss. 227-series 'Urara' If being set in a more modern timeline, 2023 and beyond, the 227-series EMU can appear as well. These are likely to be the replacement for the aging JNR equipment as JR West slowly retires their older fleet. They are improved evolutions of the 223-series with pink accent stripes to elicit images of peaches: a fruit famously associated with Okayama, being an ideal place known for fruit production, and on account of the local folktale legend of Momotaro - the boy born from a peach. These operate from Okayama until Kojima. These EMUs are formed in 2-car units, which allow for conductor-less "one man" passenger operations when needed. They are often formed in 2-unit, 4 car, trains when operating on this line. EF210 Freight Locomotive The most common freight unit spotted in and around the Okayama Area is the EF210 operated by JR Freight. It runs frequently up and down the Sanyo Main Line, as well as the through the Seto-Ohashi Line to access Shikoku. Many Japanese freight trains have intermodal capability, so it often pulls a long line of flat cars loaded with containers or tanks. The locomotive is 6-axeled and is powered by AC traction motors, receiving power from the DC overhead catenary. There is a major freight yard just west of Okayama before Kita-Nagase, and a freight yard in Sakaide which gives a potential freight scenario to do. Also trains from other terminals up and down the main line would likely feed into the Seto-Ohashi Line. Freight traffic is frequent and spread throughout the timetable all day and into the night, so unlike freight-passenger mixed timetables currently on offer in the US and UK regions of TSW4, freight is not limited to middle-of-the-night, at some god-awful hour, running. Layers Mentioned earlier were the presence of other express trains headed into the deeper regions of Shikoku. There are 3 which come to mind, which could either be added as AI units or as potential additional expansion. Limited Express Shiokaze to Matsuyama, serviced by JR Shikoku's 8000-series EMU Limited Express Shiokaze is also serviced by JR Shikoku's 8600-series EMU. Limited Express Nanpu to Kochi and Limited Express Uzushio to Tokushima, both serviced by JR Shikoku's 2700-series DMU. In summary, I think this line would be an excellent addition to TSW. It provides an extreme amount of variety in both scenery and rolling stock, as well as a jam packed timetable with something for everyone whether that be freight, rapid service/limited stop commuter service, frequent stopping passenger services, or even potentially express services. The rail facilities nearby also provide base for endless scenarios and route expansion possibilities, and this would be a great and exciting reentry into Japan for TSW.
Definitely, though unless being put in a specific scenario, as though the overhead catenary on the line are downed, they wouldn't fit the route well as the Kiha 40 series doesn't run on the Seto Ohashi Line. They do however make an appearance at Okayama Station, in platforms 9 and 10, as they run on both the Kibi (Momotaro) Line and Tsuyama Lines. You can see a Kiha 40 in JNR express livery in the overhead picture of Okayama Station. So they'd make great background AI stock, or further potential expansion.
Thank you for telling me about that and based on my plan I am going to go and Link this towards Kyoto via Kobe the Sanyo/Toikaido Shinkansen Kyoto to Okayama route.
Indeed, Okayama is linkable to the Kansai region, or "Keihanshin" region (京阪神) of Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe (京都, 大阪, 神戸) via the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, as well as the Sanyo Main Line, which is connected with the Tokaido Main Line (it just goes by the names Sanyo Main Line (Okayama region until Himeji), JR Kobe Line (Himeji to Osaka Umeda Station), and JR Kyoto Line (Osaka to Kyoto)).
I think that's a very good suggestion. I would be happy if the Sunrise Seto sleeper express would run on the Seto Ohashi Bridge.
