Blue Ribbon Award (railway)
Encyclopedia
The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1958 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by members as being the most outstanding design of the year.
The list of award winners since 1958 is as follows.
Award winners
| Award | Year | Train | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1958 | 3000 series SE Odakyu 3000 series SE The or SE , later becoming SSE , was a "Romancecar" EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 2 | 1959 | 151 series Kodama EMU | JNR |
| 3 | 1960 | 10100 series Vistacar II EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 4 | 1961 | KiHa 81 series Hatsukari Hatsukari The and were limited express train services in Japan operated by Japanese National Railways and later East Japan Railway Company from 1958 until 2002.-History:... DMU |
JNR |
| 5 | 1962 | 7000 series Meitetsu 7000 series The was a commuter electric multiple unit type operated by Nagoya Railroad in Japan since 1961. The 7000 series includes the 7100 series, 7500 series, and 7700 series.-See also:-External links:*... Panorama car EMU |
Nagoya Railroad Nagoya Railroad , often abbreviated as , is a railroad company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.Some of the more famous trains operated by Nagoya Railroad include the Panorama Car and the Panorama Car Super, both of which offer views through their wide front windows... |
| 6 | 1963 | 20100 series Aozora EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 7 | 1964 | 3100 series NSE Odakyu 3100 series NSE The or NSE electric multiple unit was used on the Odakyu Electric Railway, in the Tokyo area of Japan.It was in service from 1963 to 2000.... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 8 | 1965 | 0 Series Shinkansen 0 Series Shinkansen The trains were the first Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's new Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964. The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008.-History:... |
JNR |
| 9 | 1966 | KiHa 8000 series DMU | Nagoya Railroad Nagoya Railroad , often abbreviated as , is a railroad company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.Some of the more famous trains operated by Nagoya Railroad include the Panorama Car and the Panorama Car Super, both of which offer views through their wide front windows... |
| 10 | 1967 | 18200 series EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 11 | 1968 | 581 series Gekkō EMU | JNR |
| 12 | 1969 | JNR Class EF66 JNR Class EF66 The EF66 is a 6-axle electric locomotive designed for fast freight used by Japanese National Railways and currently operated by its descendents JR West and JR Freight.-Background and history:... electric locomotive |
JNR |
| 13 | 1970 | 5000 series Red Arrow EMU | Seibu Railway Seibu Railway is a conglomerate based in Tokorozawa, Japan, with principal business areas in railways, tourism and real estate. Seibu Railway's operations are concentrated in northwest Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture; the name "Seibu" is an abbreviation of "west Musashi," referring to the historic name for this area... |
| 14 | 1971 | (No award) | - |
| 15 | 1972 | 14 series coach | JNR |
| 16 | 1973 | 183 series 183 series The is a limited express EMU introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company... EMU |
JNR |
| 17 | 1974 | AE series Keisei AE series (1972) The was a DC electric multiple unit operated by Keisei Electric Railway on Skyliner limited express services to and from Narita International Airport in Japan. First delivered in 1972, the trains operated between 1973 and 1993, and were replaced by Keisei AE100 series EMUs.-See also:* Narita Express... Skyliner Skyliner is a limited-express airport train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.-Service:... EMU |
Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Electric Railway The is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and... |
| 18 | 1975 | (No award) | - |
| 19 | 1976 | 6300 series EMU | Hankyu |
| 20 | 1977 | 6000 series Meitetsu 6000 series The is a commuter electric multiple unit type operated by Nagoya Railroad in Japan since 1976. In the narrow sense of the word, the 6000 series is the type produced from 1976, but in the broad sense, it includes later series, namely the 6500 series, the 6600 series, and the 6800 series. ... EMU |
Nagoya Railroad Nagoya Railroad , often abbreviated as , is a railroad company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.Some of the more famous trains operated by Nagoya Railroad include the Panorama Car and the Panorama Car Super, both of which offer views through their wide front windows... |
| 21 | 1978 | 12400 series Sunny Car EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 22 | 1979 | 30000 series Vistacar III (now Vista EX) EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 23 | 1980 | Enoden 1000 series EMU | Enoshima Electric Railway Enoshima Electric Railway The connects Kamakura Station in Kamakura, with Fujisawa Station in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Stations en route include Hase Station, the stop closest to Kōtoku-in, the temple with the colossal outdoor statue of Amida Buddha. It is fully owned by the Odakyu Group of companies.- Train... |
| 24 | 1981 | 7000 series LSE Odakyu 7000 series LSE The or LSE EMU is used on the Odakyu Electric Railway since 1980 in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Operations:The 7000 LSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station .... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 25 | 1982 | 1000 series Bernina EMU | Hakone Tozan Railway Hakone Tozan Railway The is a private railway company in Japan, part of the Odakyū Group. It is best known for its operation of the Hakone Tozan Line, the first mountain railway in Japan, but like most Japanese railway companies, also operates bus service, namely Hakone Tozan Bus... |
| 26 | 1983 | 2000 series EMU | Keikyu |
| 27 | 1984 | 14 series Salon Express Tokyo train | JNR |
| 28 | 1985 | 8800 series Panorama DX EMU | Nagoya Railroad Nagoya Railroad , often abbreviated as , is a railroad company operating around Aichi Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture of Japan.Some of the more famous trains operated by Nagoya Railroad include the Panorama Car and the Panorama Car Super, both of which offer views through their wide front windows... |
| 29 | 1986 | 2100 series Resort 21 EMU | Izukyū Corporation Izukyū Corporation The is a private railroad company in Japan, and a subsidiary of the Tokyu Corporation. The company operates the Izu Kyūkō Line train service on Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, and has subsidiary operations involved in taxi and bus services, as well as real estate and leisure resort... |
| 30 | 1987 | KiHa 83/84 Furano Express DMU | JR Hokkaido |
| 31 | 1988 | 10000 series HiSE Odakyu 10000 series HiSE The EMU operated by the Odakyu Electric Railway in the Tokyo area of Japan.-Lines used:The 10000 HiSE travels mainly between Shinjuku Station and Hakone-Yumoto Station .-Transfer:... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 32 | 1989 | 21000 series Urban Liner EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 33 | 1990 | 651 series 651 series The is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit type operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan.Trains operate as 7+4-car formations on Super Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Jōban Line.-7-car sets:... Super Hitachi Hitachi (Japanese train) is the general name for limited express train services operated by East Japan Railway Company on the Jōban Line between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture and Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture.... EMU |
JR East |
| 34 | 1991 | 100 series Tōbu 100 series The , branded , is a limited express EMU type operated by Tōbu Railway in Japan since 1990. The trains are used on Kegon and Kinu services to Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen.-History:... Spacia EMU |
Tobu Railway Tobu Railway is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures... |
| 35 | 1992 | 20000 series RSE Odakyu 20000 series RSE The Odakyū 20000 series RSE is an electric multiple unit train type operated by Odakyu Electric Railway on Asagiri limited express services in Japan.-Operations:... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 36 | 1993 | 787 series 787 series The is an AC electric multiple unit type operated on limited express services by Kyushu Railway Company in Japan since July 1992.-7-car sets :The 7-car sets are formed as follows.... Tsubame EMU |
JR Kyushu |
| 37 | 1994 | (No award) | - |
| 38 | 1995 | 50000 series Rapi:t Rapi:t is a rapid train service between Kansai International Airport and Namba Station in Osaka, Japan. It is operated by Nankai Electric Railway, and the train service uses on the Nankai Main Line and the Airport Line.... EMU |
Nankai Electric Railway Nankai Electric Railway is a private railway in Japan. IC cards are accepted.Nankai Railway Company was founded on June 16, 1884, then became one of the companies that merge to form Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in 1944. However Kin-nichi transferred the former Nankai Railway Company Lines to present Nankai Electric... |
| 39 | 1996 | 883 series 883 series The is an AC electric multiple unit tilting train type operated on Sonic limited express services by Kyushu Railway Company in Japan since April 1995.-Formations:... Sonic Sonic (train) is the name used by Kyushu Railway Company for the limited express train service operating between Hakata and Ōita via Kokura and Beppu along the Kagoshima Main Line and Nippō Main Line in Kyūshū, Japan... EMU |
JR Kyushu |
| 40 | 1997 | (No award) | - |
| 41 | 1998 | 500 Series Shinkansen 500 Series Shinkansen The is a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Sanyō Shinkansen lines in Japan. They were designed to be capable of although they currently operate at a maximum of in service... Nozomi |
JR West |
| 42 | 1999 | 285 series 285 series The is an electric multiple unit train type operated jointly by Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company on the overnight Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto limited express service in Japan.... Sunrise Express EMU |
JR Central & JR West |
| 43 | 2000 | E26 series Cassiopeia Cassiopeia (train) The is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call... sleeping car |
JR East |
| 44 | 2001 | 885 series 885 series The is an AC electric multiple unit type operated on limited express services by Kyushu Railway Company in Japan. The type is part of Hitachi's A-train family of multiple units.-Operations:... Shiroi Kamome Kamome is a limited express train operated by JR Kyushu in Japan. It operates between Hakata and Nagasaki on the Kagoshima Main Line and the Nagasaki Main Line. Kamome means seagull in Japanese.-History:... EMU |
JR Kyushu |
| 45 | 2002 | E257 series E257 series The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company and built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and Tokyu Car Corporation... Azusa Azusa (train) The and are limited express services operated by East Japan Railway , which run between Shinjuku and Matsumoto via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line.The name Azusa is taken from the Azusa River in Matsumoto, Nagano.-Azusa:-Super Azusa:... / Kaiji Kaiji (train) The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs mainly between Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and Kōfu Station in Kōfu, Yamanashi via the Chūō Main Line.-Kaiji:Shinjuku - Kōfu... EMU |
JR East |
| 46 | 2003 | 21020 series Urban Liner Next EMU | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... |
| 47 | 2004 | 5100 type bilevel cab car 5000 series (JR Shikoku) The is a suburban electric multiple unit train type operated by Shikoku Railway Company in Shikoku, Japan.Seven 2-car sets were introduced in 2003 by JR Shikoku along with the JR West 223-5000 series... Marine Liner Marine Liner The is the name of a train service in Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company and Shikoku Railway Company . The Marine Liner links Okayama, the capital city of Okayama Prefecture and a major station on the Sanyō Shinkansen, with Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture on the island... EMU |
JR Shikoku |
| 48 | 2005 | M250 series M250 series The M250 Series Super Rail Cargo is a freight electric multiple unit operated by JR Freight in Japan. It entered service in 2004 with the objective of reducing emissions and carrying general freight for small package forwarders . The M250 series is JR Freight's first container train with... Super Rail Cargo EMU |
JR Freight |
| 49 | 2006 | 50000 series VSE Odakyu 50000 series VSE The or VSE is an electric multiple unit operated by Odakyu Electric Railway on Romancecar services in Japan. Two 10-car articulated sets were introduced in March 2005, manufactured by Nippon Sharyo.... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 50 | 2007 | 0600 series "Portram" | Toyama Light Rail |
| 51 | 2008 | N700 Series Shinkansen N700 Series Shinkansen The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen lines, and also operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.... |
JR Central & JR West |
| 52 | 2009 | 60000 series MSE Odakyu 60000 series MSE The is a Romancecar EMU manufactured by Nippon Sharyo for Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan. Two 6-car sets and one 4-car set were ordered in September 2006, with the first 6-car set delivered in October 2007. The trains entered service on 15 March 2008, used on Odakyū through service to the Tokyo... EMU |
Odakyu Electric Railway Odakyu Electric Railway , or OER, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan best known for its Romancecar series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone.... |
| 53 | 2010 | E259 series E259 series The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan. A total of 132 vehicles formed as 22 6-car sets were introduced from 1 October 2009 on the Narita Express limited express services to and from Narita International Airport... Narita Express Narita Express , abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express train service operated since 1991 by East Japan Railway Company , serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day... EMU |
JR East |
| 54 | 2011 | AE series Keisei AE series (2009) The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by Keisei Electric Railway on Skyliner limited express services to and from Narita International Airport in Japan via the new Narita Sky Access Line... Skyliner Skyliner is a limited-express airport train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.-Service:... EMU |
Keisei Electric Railway Keisei Electric Railway The is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and... |