Marine Liner

Since 1 October 2003, the Marine Liner has been operated by JR West 223-5000 series EMU trainsets. The first car on most Takamatsu-bound trains is a JR Shikoku 5000 series bi-level cab car with reserved seating. Previously, 213 series EMUs were used.

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" (快速, kaisoku) service, only a standard fare is charged for using the Marine Liner. It currently takes about one hour to cover the entire journey. A passenger may upgrade to reserved seating for an additional fee.

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

Side view of Marine Liner 5000 series bilevel car at Takamatsu Station, May 2007

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

Key (as of December 2006)

Services are formed as 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-car formations as shown below with car 1 at the Takamatsu end. All cars are no smoking.

• Green: Green class (first class)
• White: Standard class
• G (green class), R (standard class): Reserved seats
• NR (standard class only): Non-reserved seats

The Marine Liner service was introduced in April 1988, using 3-car 213 series EMUs formed as three-car, six-car, or nine-car formations.[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marine Liner (train).

• JR West Marine Liner information (in Japanese)
• JR Shikoku Marine Liner information (in Japanese)