Rapid Train

In the terminology used in the Passenger Operation Regulations of Japan National Railways (JNR) and JR Group, Rapid Trains are included in the broad sense of the term Local Trains (Japanese: 普通列車, Hepburn: Futsū Ressha).

Even a rapid train may be guided as "Local" (普通, Futsū) in sections where it stops at each station.

For example, Aioi City and Ako City in Hyogo Prefecture have been promoting the fact that they can reach Keihanshin by "one Shin-Kaisoku" train to promote tourism and settlement activities, but the March 26, 2016 timetable revision eliminated daytime Shin-Kaisoku service, replacing it with local trains.

[2] Even if the rapid trains operate only during the daytime, their presence has the advantage that the travel time can be posted on real estate advertisements [3] (if the travel time during commuting hours increases or if the rapid trains do not operate, it is necessary to add a note to that effect, but that note is small).

A train that operates as an electric multiple unit (電車, Densha) around a specified sections of trains with passing stations is called a "rapid electric multiple unit"(快速電車, Kaisoku Densha).

The hierarchical relationship with semi-express, express, and other train types differs depending on the railroad company.

It is also sometimes referred to as "Kaisoku" among residents along private railway lines in the Kansai region as an abbreviation for rapid express train.

As an exceptional case of using an exclusive train, Tobu Railway uses 6050 series on its Isesaki and Nikko lines, as mentioned above.

The "Marine Liner Hamanasu" operated by the Kashima Waterfront Railway used Series 7000 as its exclusive train.

In the past, the "Marine Liner Hamanasu" operated by Kashima Rinkai Railway required a ticket of 200 yen in addition to the fare.

However, the English transliteration differs depending on the operator, with JR Central's Tōkaidō Main Line and Metropolitan New Transit Railway's Tsukuba Express using "Semi Rapid" for "区間快速" (Kukan-Kaisoku).

This is because JR Central has "特別快速" (Tokubetsu-Kaisoku, English translation:"Special Rapid Train").

JR West's "直通快速" (Chokutsū-Kaisoku) is translated into English as "Direct Rapid Service".

[6] Tokyo Monorail's "空港快速" (Kūkō-Kaisoku) is translated into English as "HANEDA EXPRESS" and "区間快速" (Kukan-Kaisoku) as "RAPID", respectively.