Kintetsu 19200 series Aoniyoshi

Data (as of 12 Jan 2024)

History

The 19200 series was dramatically converted from 12200 series New Snack Car as a new limited express train for tourists. According to Kintetsu, the company concluded that a train that is slightly more expensive but still affordable for everybody would be better than a luxurious one, and thus the company converted a redundant train rather than introducing a brand new train. The 19200 series includes a carriage which not only Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kojun but also Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip boarded in the 1970s.

The 19200 series has many features based on traditional culture of the region, especially the dark purple livery with Raden patterns (one of the decorative techniques used in traditional Japanese crafts and woodwork). The train has larger windows than the 12200 series as it was designed specifically for tourists. Seats were specifically developed by a furniture manufacturer. There are also compartments and a small shop where light refreshments are available.

The word aoniyoshi is a part of the set phrase meaning Nara, which dates back to the 7th century.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 19200 series is used only for Limited Express Aoniyoshi (Osaka-Namba - Kintetsu-Nara or Kyoto - Kintetsu-Nara), which run daily except on Thursdays. As it has been more popular than Kintetsu predicted, the number of services have been increased in late-2022.