Spacecraft Looking Train in 2025 Expo in Osaka

A futuristic and spacecraft looking subway train featuring an exterior will be one of the awesome factors for the 2025 Osaka Kansai Expo. Osaka Metro Co. unveiled the design for the new 400 series train, scheduled to start operating in April 2023 on the Chuo Line.

Kiyoyuki Okuyama, the chief design officer at Osaka Metro Co, came up with the characteristic design by pursuing a vehicle whose passengers can enjoy exciting rides. Okuyama has also worked on Ferrari sports cars, East Japan Railway Co.’s luxury sleeper Train Suite Shiki-shima and the E7 and W7 series trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line.

By the end of fiscal 2024, Osaka Metro will extend the Chuo Line to Yumeshima, the site of the Osaka Kansai Expo.

To offer passengers a beautiful view, the front portion of the train is covered by a large sheet of glass with light-emitting diodes embedded in all four corners.

Hitachi Ltd. will build the 400 series train. Introducing all 23 of the six-car trains is estimated to cost 30 billion yen ($264 million).

The 400 series train will be equipped with a self-operating function, allowing the train to be handled by crew members who do not have driving licenses. The system is expected to undergo verification testing in fiscal 2024. Security cameras will b placed so that crew members can monitor the conditions aboard in real time. The safety feature comes after a series of high-profile attacks on trains nationwide.

Osaka Metro plans to use additional 10 trains from the 30000A series to secure enough transportation capability for the event.