Tango Explorer

Tango Explorer
Tango Explorer at Nishi-Maizuru Station
Overview
Service typeIntercity rail, Limited express
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleŌsaka, Hyōgo, Kyōto Prefectures
First service1990
Last service2011
Former operator(s)Kitakinki Tango Railway, JR West
Route
TerminiShin-Osaka
Miyazu, Toyooka
Stops21
Distance travelled207.3 km (128.8 mi)
Average journey time3 hours 19 minutes
Service frequencyTwo round trips daily
On-board services
Class(es)Unreserved, reserved, and Green class seating
Technical
Rolling stockKitakinki Tango Railway KTR001 series DMU
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationDiesel

Tango Explorer (タンゴエクスプローラー, Tango-ekusupurōrā) was a limited express service operated by Kitakinki Tango Railway and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Shin-Osaka and Miyazu and/or Toyooka stations. The term also referred to the KTR001 series (currently used for Tango Relay services between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka) rolling stock itself. "Tango" refers to the Tango (丹後) region of northern Kyoto Prefecture.

Prior to 1999, the Tango Explorer operated from Kyoto Station, but with the introduction of the Tango Discovery service, Tango Explorer services begi at Shin-Osaka.

Services

Tango Explorer services were generally run with three-car trains, though during peak holiday periods six-car trains (three paired sets) are used. When the Tango Explorer KTR001 series trainset was out of operation, KTR8000 series DMUs (used on the Tango Discovery service) or JNR 183 series EMUs were sometimes used.[citation needed]

Terminuses are in bold.

Shin-Osaka - Osaka - Amagasaki - Takarazuka - Sanda - (Shin-Sanda) - (Aino) - Sasayamaguchi - (Tanikawa) - Kaibara - (Kuroi) - Fukuchiyama - Ōe - Miyazu - Amanohashidate - Nodagawa - Tango-Ōmiya - Mineyama - Amino - Kumihama - Toyooka

  • The Tango Explorer 2 stopped at Kuroi and Tanikawa.
  • The Tango Explorer 3 stopped at Shin-Sanda, Aino, Tanikawa and Kuroi.

References