Crack Railworks 2 Please Login To Steam
Anastacia Iacono
The following is a list of the known live steam clubs and private tracks around the world. If your track or club is not listed and you would like to add it to our list, please click HERE to enter your information. Once your information is verified it will be posted to our list.
If you see your club or track listed and would like to be the editor click on the "Claim" button and fill out the access request form. You will be given a login and password to access the information about your track. You will be able to change or add information to bring it up to date as well as add photographs and links to youtube videos. It is our goal to make this the most complete and usefull list on the web and with your help we can do just that.
Clicking on the little G button will display the Google satellite view of that track as well as a local map. Feel free to enter comments in the comment sections for each track. This page is a work in progress, please let us know if there is anything you would like added to it or a better way to dispaly the information.
In Japan, railroads are the primary mode of passenger transportation, and they have been ever since the first passenger steam locomotives debuted in Japan during the Meiji Restoration in 1872.
Most Japanese rail lines have a unique name, normally taken from one of the cities or regions along the route, which means that the system is incredibly easy to navigate (the line names are even indicated on the tickets!).
The very first thing to know is that railway lines in Japan are not operated by a single company. Japanese National Railways, a government-owned company, used to be in charge of the entire rail network in Japan as well as everything associated with it.
Due to this, when reading the visual maps above any ticket-vending machine around Japan you will notice that some lines headed in the same direction have different prices. This is so because each company has its own price list.
Combined, these companies operate over 2,870.1 kilometers of railways across Japan. However, remember that the JR Group controls over 20,135 km of lines in Japan, a far greater number, and that you can use the JR Pass on the majority of these services.
There are over a 100 different types of Limited Express trains, with a limited number of stops, so they only go to major Japanese stations. Similar to the Shinkansen, the Limited Express also requires an additional fee to be paid. The Japan Rail Pass does cover some of those trains, however not all of them. The extra cost can vary between 400 and 4,000 yens.
Many of the Japanese Express trains have been stopped and upgraded to Limited Express or downgraded to Rapid. The JR Group operates the current Express trains, which means Japan Rail Pass holders can use them free of charge. All other passengers will be charged an additional fee.
Passengers will not be charged any extra fees when boarding a rapid train. A single train ride costs equally to one local train ride. The only difference is that rapid trains skip a few stops in comparison to the local one, which makes their time of arrival notably shorter.
To ride a local train you will need to buy a regular ticket. No extra fee will be required. Local trains can either go from point A to point B or run at loop lines in both directions (like the Yamanote line in Tokyo or the Osaka loop line), stopping at all stations. It is recommended not to take these trains for long distances as they are some of the slowest and least spacious in Japan.
While most trains are geared toward commuting or business travel, there are many trains that are designed for tourists. In Japan, this type of train is broadly referred to as joyful trains.
The most popular trains are the various steam trains that run on more scenic lines. These mostly run on weekends and holidays and many operate only in the summer months. Many of them called character trains have been given unique designs to attract visitors to scenic locations.
Before explaining the ticket-buying process, let us focus on the train ticket options you will have with the different companies and services (you can also read our article about Train tickets in Japan for more detailed information):
All Japan Rail Pass holders are entitled to free seat reservations. If you are a JR Pass holder, you can simply go to any of the ticket offices located at the stations, specify which train you are planning to take and that is all. You will be given a confirmation of your seat reservation within seconds.
Japan Rail Pass holders enter the train platforms at the station from a different gate than those with standard train tickets. To enter, JR Pass travelers should go to the glass booth located next to the gates and show their JR Pass (and passport, if required) to the staff.
Riding the trains with large suitcases is not recommended as there is little storage space provided on most trains. This excludes the Narita Express, which will take you to and from Narita Airport to central Tokyo, and the Haruka train. Both are well equipped for large luggage, however, the rest of the trains are not.
Shinkansen trains offer overhead storage compartments for regular luggage. Also, there is space behind the last row of seats of each car. However, this space is limited, and there is no guarantee it will be available.
It is important to understand that the Japanese follow a strict etiquette in public and especially when riding a train or taking a bus. Always bear in mind that speaking on the phone is not accepted, as you are disturbing those who surround you.
Hi! This information is great for first time travelers. However, I just want to clarify something. If we are carrying a JR pass and will ride a local train, do we have to buy a regular ticket? Is the local train not covered by the JR pass? Thanks!
Hi:
Which JR train can I take from Haneda airport to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. I need to go to shinagawa to take the JR train to kyoto. How do I reserve seats on the same day if I am exchanging the JR pass when I arrive?
From Haneda Airport you can take the Tokyo Monorail, which is included in your Japan Rail Pass. Hamamatsucho Station (first station on the Yamanote Line, which will take you straight to Shinagawa Station) is reached in as little as 13 minutes.
1. Please take your Japan Rail Pass to the JR Ticket Office.
2. Once at the ticket office, you will be asked about your destination and preferred departure time.
3. You will be handed your reserved seat ticket, stating departure time, arrival time, train name, car and seat.
Hi, thank you for all the helpful information. Is 24 inch luggage OK to bring into trains or too big?
I prefer to have my luggage with me when travelling from city to city, but worry my 24 inch luggage may be too big to bring into the trains.
Hi Angela! Travellers are allowed luggage on board of Shinkansen bullet trains for no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage, both of which should have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total of 250 cm in height, length and width. There is a delivery service option.
Hi R! We sstrongly recommend you to check Hyperdia, the number 1 Japanese online transportation planning tool. Hyperdia offers detailed timetables, platform information, trip duration and exact distance, which will help you greatly in organizing your trips in Japan. You will even be able of filtering transportation included in your Japan Rail Pass ?
We are planning to visit Japan in April for 2 weeks as below: Tokyo (6 days), Kyoto (4 day so), Osaka (2 days), Hiroshima (2 days). We would like to use JLPass but I wonder if it covers all the bullet trains from the city to city such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Osaka, from Osaka to Hiroshima OR from Hiroshima back to Tokyo?
Thank you in advance for your time and looking forward to hearing your advice/ recommendation!
By the way, I do appreciate your effort to answer all the concerned questions! ??
Hello,
Four of us will be arriving in Haneda, international flight, on a Saturday afternoon, 3:40 PM, then wish to take the fastest bullet train to Kyoto; coming back to Tokyo no rush so we would use the JR rail pass. In your opinion, would we find seats on Nozomi on a Saturday afternoon/evening? Alternatively, we could take the Hikari to Kyoto(2 hr 40 min?), would we find seats on a Saturday afternoon/evening? Also, does the JR rail pass include train travel between Tokyo and Hitachi seaside park?
Thank you!
Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen bullet trains (both reserved and non-reserved) are not included with the JR Pass. However, there are Nozomi and Mizuho alternatives which passengers can access with the JR Pass. Typically, Hikari and Sakura trains only make a few more stops than Nozomi or Mizuho trains so they do not take too much longer to reach Osaka or Kyoto from Tokyo. For example, traveling to Osaka from Tokyo takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes by Nozomi, or just over 3 hours by Hikari.
There are five Tokyo railway lines that travelers can use with their JR Pass: Yamanote line, Chuo line, Keihin-Tohoku line, Sobu line and Saikyo line. Besides, the Tokaido Shinkansen trains stop at Tokyo, Ueno, and Shinagawa stations. These are the only lines you can take at no additional cost with your Japan Rail Pass.
Hi Eurosong! Travel to Sapporo by train is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. This is an affordable option with the added bonus of views of much of the Japanese countryside. From Tokyo Station, take the JR Tohoku / Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate Station. From there, you will take the Hokuto limited express or Super Hokuto trains to Sapporo Station. Both are covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Happy travels!
Hi,
I will be arriving in Narita Intl airport on 1st Dec, morning. I plan to visit Kyoto and Hakone. My trip starts on saturday morning and ends on Monday evening in Yokohama. Effectively I have got 3 days. How do i plan out? Will the JR pass make sense?
Thanks