Interview with Development Staff On the occasion of the unveiling of the exterior, four persons involved in the GRAN Tenku project at Nankai Electric Railway’s Transportation Vehicle Department answered questions from the press. Mariko Akasaka, senior manager in charge of planning, said that the decision to make the entire train car red was made based on the red color of the Daimon Gate, a symbolic structure in Koyasan, among other factors. However, there are several sightseeing trains on other lines with similar colors, so the color was chosen through a process of trial and error so that it would not clash with other trains and would not look out of place in the deep mountains around Gokurakubashi Station. When asked how he feels now, he said, “I am excited to imagine many customers riding the train with smiles on their faces. According to Assistant Manager Takayoshi Kubozono, also in charge of planning, there was a proposal to build a new train at the beginning of the GRAN Tenku project. However, the 2000 Series trains, which can be considered Koya Line specifications, had been in production for 35 years and were due for equipment renewal, so the decision was made to modify them in conjunction with the construction of those trains. The decision was made to modify the trains in conjunction with the construction of the new equipment. For example, four square front lights were installed under the driver’s cab, but these were changed to round lights and placed above the driver’s cab. This completely changes the appearance of the car and gives a sense of novelty. Sales Manager Shiina Mori revealed that the valley side of GRAN Tenkusu’s No. 2 car has seats facing the window, as the view of the valley side of the mountains is popular on the Tenkusu. As for the provision of food and beverages, Nankai Electric Railway has not done so in recent years, and is currently in the process of accumulating know-how through interviews with other companies. Koyasan is a popular area for both domestic and international tourists, and the company hopes to create GRAN Tenku with pride so that more people can enjoy their time traveling to Koyasan with Nankai Electric Railway’s unique design and food along the route. Shinji Saizu, assistant manager in charge of sales, mentioned the current issues, such as the fact that reservations for Tenku are only made by phone, which is a hurdle for inbound travelers, and said that they are looking for ways to make it easier for more people to use the facility by revising the reservation method. He said that they are looking for ways to make it easier for more people to use the service by revising the reservation method. In addition, he hopes to coordinate with Koya Town and Kongobuji Temple to make the GRAN Tenku service more lively in the local community. If GRAN Tenku is a success, I personally would like to be involved in another sightseeing train,” he replied with a smile. According to Akasaka, the interior of the train will resemble a luxury hotel and will incorporate many of Nankai’s local products and traditions, such as one-of-a-kind furnishings made by artisans. The fare will be relatively reasonable for a sightseeing train. The train will operate on weekdays except Wednesdays and the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, making two round trips per day, and is expected to be a sightseeing train that can be enjoyed by tourists from far and near, as well as those from the Keihanshin region.
© Source travel watch