The Odakyu Electric Railway Company, Ltd. , commonly known as Odakyū or Odawara Kyuko, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.
Ebina Headquarters, Ebina, Kanagawa
Former Odakyu Head Office Building near Minami-Shinjuku station
Odakyu 5000 series EMU near Mukōgaoka-Yūen Station
An Odakyu 50000 series VSE Romancecar near Shin-Yurigaoka station
The Romancecar is Odakyu Electric Railway's name for its limited express luxury tourist services south-west of Tokyo, to mountain resorts such as Hakone and Gotemba, and beaches such as Odawara and Enoshima. When the service started in 1957 with the 3000 series SE trainset, it broke the world speed record for a narrow gauge train. This record gave impetus for the design of the first Shinkansen, the 0 series. The 50th anniversary of the Romancecar's narrow gauge world speed record was celebrated September 28, 2007. Some of the latest designs incorporate regenerative braking.
The first Romancecar, 1957 world-record-holding 3000 series SE
Bento meal with food in model train onboard VSE train
3000, 3100 and 7000 series Romancecar trains, left to right, in traditional colors
10000 series HiSE Romancecar
