Marine Liner

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The Marine Liner #37 service to Takamatsu passes Sanuki-Fuchu station on Shikoku. Leading the way is a JR Shikoku series 5000 bi-level cab car.

The Marine Liner (マリンライナー) is the name of a train service in Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company and Shikoku Railway Company, the Marine Liner links Okayama, the capital city of Okayama Prefecture and a major station on the San'yo Shinkansen, with Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, via the Great Seto Bridge (瀬戸大橋). At a top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), the one-way journey takes approximately 55-60 minutes.

The Marine Liner is operated by JR West series 223-5000 trainsets. The first car on most Takamatsu-bound trains is a JR Shikoku series 5000 bi-level cab car with reserved seating.

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 service (快速), a standard fare is charged for using the Marine Liner. It currently takes about one hour to cover the entire journey at a cost of ¥1470 each way. A passenger may upgrade to reserved seating for an additional ¥510 and ¥950 each way, for the bottom (ordinary reserved) and top (green car/first class reserved) levels of the bi-level train car, respectively. There is a ¥200 discount on ordinary reserved seating during off-peak seasons.

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

[edit] Route

This Marine Liner boards passengers at Takamatsu Station, the Shikoku terminal for the Marine Liner.

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

[edit] Stations

[edit] Marine Liner Stopping Patterns (as of December, 2006)

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

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