Mahoroba (train)

The Mahoroba (まほろば) is a limited express train service in Japan owned by JR West connecting Ōsaka Station and Nara Station that started operation in November 2019. It runs on the Osaka Higashi Line and Yamatoji Line on weekends and holidays and was initially a seasonal train[1][2][3], before beginning year-round operation in March 2025.[4]

The name Mahoroba was previously used from April to June 2010 for a special limited express service between Shin-Ōsaka Station and Nara Station that ran on Tokaido Main Line (Umeda Freight Line), Osaka Loop Line, and Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) from April to June 2010.

2010 operation overview

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Mahoroba (2010)
381 series set on a Mahoroba service, April 2010
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusFormer
First serviceApril 1, 2010
Last serviceJune 27, 2010
Current operator(s)JR West
Route
TerminiShin-Ōsaka
Nara
Stops4
Distance travelled52.0 km (32.3 mi)
Service frequencyDaily (weekends and holidays)
Train number(s)9093 (towards Nara) 9094 (towards Shin-Osaka)
On-board services
Class(es)Standard
Disabled accessNone
Seating arrangementsStandard
Sleeping arrangementsNone
Catering facilitiesNone
Observation facilitiesNone
Entertainment facilitiesNone
Other facilitiesToilets
Technical
Rolling stock381 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Track owner(s)JR West

From April 1 to June 30, 2010, a "Nara Destination Campaign" was held[5][6] to attract more tourists to Nara. It also marked the 1,300th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo, and the 1,300th Anniversary Commemorative Project of Heijo-kyo was held centering on the ruins of Heijo Palace in Nara City. Six JR companies were cooperating with this. The section and service route were the same as those of the Venue Access Rapid Service that was operated during the Nara Silk Road Exposition in 1988.

Inside the train, a commemorative boarding pass with a different design was distributed for the outbound and return trips. Passengers bound for Nara were presented with Nara souvenirs by lottery, and the lottery number was printed on the back of the commemorative boarding pass for the outbound trip. On the last run on June 27, station staff saw off the train in Meiji-era uniforms, and the train departed when the stationmaster of Nara gave the departure signal.[7][8]

Trains stopped at the following stations: Shin-Ōsaka – Tennoji – Horyuji - Nara

Formations:

  • Green: Green car (first class)
  • White: Standard car (second class)
  • G (green car)
  • R (standard car): Reserved seats only
  • NR (standard car): Non Reserved seats only
  • No smoking available.
Direction
left: Nara
right: Shin-Osaka
  • The services operated with 6-car formations.
1 2 3 4 5 6
R R NR NR NR NR
  • The boarding position display at Nara Station.
    The boarding position display at Nara Station.
  • Here the mascot “Sento-kun” was greeting passengers on the train.
    Here the mascot “Sento-kun” was greeting passengers on the train.

2019 to present

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Mahoroba (2019)
A Mahoroba service at Shin-Ōsaka Station
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusOperational
Current operator(s)JR West
Route
TerminiŌsaka
Nara
Stops4
Distance travelled54.4 km (33.8 mi)
Average journey time59 minutes approx (Ōsaka – Nara)
Service frequencyDaily (weekends and holidays)
Train number(s)9022M (towards Nara), 9021M (towards Osaka)[9][10]
Line(s) usedUmeda Freight Line (Tōkaidō Main Line), Osaka Higashi Line, Yamatoji Line
On-board services
Class(es)Standard
Disabled accessYes
Sleeping arrangementsNone
Catering facilitiesNone
Observation facilitiesNone
Entertainment facilitiesNone
Other facilitiesToilets, wheelchair spaces
Technical
Rolling stock683 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Track owner(s)JR West

Following the extension of Osaka Higashi Line to Shin-Ōsaka Station in March 2019, JR West resumed the operation of Mahoroba on weekends and holidays during the high tourist season from November to December that year. Unlike the previous iteration of the service, the new limited express runs nonstop between Shin-Ōsaka and Osaka to compete with Kintetsu Nara Line that runs between the two cities.[11][12] JR West scheduled two daily round-trips with connections to San'yō Shinkansen trains in mind.[13]

In March 2023, Mahoroba services began terminating at Ōsaka Station following the opening of the underground Umekita area platforms, running on the Umeda Freight Line branch of the Tōkaidō Main Line from Shin-Ōsaka to Ōsaka.[14]

In December 2024, JR West announced that beginning March 2025, Mahoroba would make one regular daily roundtrip on weekends and holidays throughout the year, plus an additional daily roundtrip between March and October. JR West also announced the introduction of two 683 series sets specially refurbished for the Mahoroba service that would start operating in April 2025.[4]

Trains stop at the following stations:

Formations:

  • White: Standard car (second class)
  • Wheelchair-accessible facility in car 2
  • No smoking available.
  • The services are operated as 3-car formation.
← Nara
Osaka →
1 2 3
Reserved Reserved Reserved
2019-2024
  • 287 series at Nara station as Mahoroba on the first day of service, November 2, 2019
    287 series at Nara station as Mahoroba on the first day of service, November 2, 2019
  • The boarding position display at Nara Station
    The boarding position display at Nara Station
  • Train name and destination sign
    Train name and destination sign
  • 287 series at Nara station on a Mahoroba service on April 6, 2020
    287 series at Nara station on a Mahoroba service on April 6, 2020
2025 to present
  • 683 series Annei set at Nara Station on the first day of operation as Mahoroba, April 5, 2025
    683 series Annei set at Nara Station on the first day of operation as Mahoroba, April 5, 2025
  • The boarding position display at Nara Station
    The boarding position display at Nara Station
  • Train name and destination sign
    Train name and destination sign
  • Refurbished 683 series interior
    Refurbished 683 series interior
  • Wheelchair space on the refurbished 683 series set
    Wheelchair space on the refurbished 683 series set

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "新大阪～奈良駅間 ノンストップ特急の臨時運行" (Press release). 西日本旅客鉄道. August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "臨時特急「まほろば」新大阪～奈良間で運行 おおさか東線をノンストップで走る". 乗りものニュース. August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  3. ^ "2020年【春】の臨時列車の運転について" (PDF) (Press release). 西日本旅客鉄道. January 17, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "25 年春、特急「まほろば」の定期運行化と、 リニューアルデビューが決定！" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JR West. December 13, 2024. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  5. ^ 平成20年5月19日（月）臨時記者会見 - 奈良県
  6. ^ 奈良デスティネーションキャンペーン 臨時特急「まほろば」号 運行開始！ Archived 2010-03-17 at the Wayback Machine - 西日本旅客鉄道プレスリリース 2010年1月22日
  7. ^ 臨時特急「まほろば」号ラストランとデスティネーションキャンペーン引継ぎ式の開催について Archived 2010-06-26 at the Wayback Machine - 西日本旅客鉄道プレスリリース 2010年6月22日
  8. ^ 臨時特急"まほろば"の運転終了 - 『鉄道ファン』交友社 railf.jp 鉄道ニュース 2010年6月28日
  9. ^ "列車詳細情報 9021M". 西日本旅客鉄道. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "列車詳細情報 9022M". 西日本旅客鉄道. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "どうする近鉄、ＪＲ西日本、牙城の「奈良」に臨時特急運行" (in Japanese). 産経新聞. September 9, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  12. ^ "帰ってきた「臨時特急まほろば」〜奈良の雄・近鉄への挑戦〜" (in Japanese). 鉄道チャンネル. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "新大阪～奈良駅間 ノンストップ特急の臨時運行" (Press release) (in Japanese). JR West. August 22, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  14. ^ "臨時特急「まほろば」 運転のお知らせ" (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JR West. January 20, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
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