Tango Explorer
Tango Explorer (タンゴエクスプローラー, Tango-ekusupurōrā) was a limited express service operated by Kitakinki Tango Railway and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Shin-Osaka and Miyazu and/or Toyooka stations. The term also referred to the KTR001 series (currently used for Tango Relay services between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka) rolling stock itself. "Tango" refers to the Tango (丹後) region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Prior to 1999, the Tango Explorer operated from Kyoto Station, but with the introduction of the Tango Discovery service, Tango Explorer services begi at Shin-Osaka. The service operated from 1990 to 2011.
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2025) |
 Tango Explorer at Nishi-Maizuru Station | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Intercity rail, Limited express |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Ōsaka, Hyōgo, Kyōto Prefectures |
| First service | 1990 |
| Last service | 2011 |
| Former operators | Kitakinki Tango Railway, JR West |
| Route | |
| Termini | Shin-Osaka Miyazu, Toyooka |
| Stops | 21 |
| Distance travelled | 207.3 km (128.8 mi) |
| Average journey time | 3 hours 19 minutes |
| Service frequency | Two round trips daily |
| On-board services | |
| Classes | Unreserved, reserved, and Green class seating |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Kitakinki Tango Railway KTR001 series DMU |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | Diesel |
Tango Explorer (タンゴエクスプローラー, Tango-ekusupurōrā) was a limited express service operated by Kitakinki Tango Railway and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Shin-Osaka and Miyazu and/or Toyooka stations. The term also referred to the KTR001 series (currently used for Tango Relay services between Fukuchiyama and Toyooka) rolling stock itself. "Tango" refers to the Tango (丹後) region of northern Kyoto Prefecture.
Prior to 1999, the Tango Explorer operated from Kyoto Station, but with the introduction of the Tango Discovery service, Tango Explorer services begi at Shin-Osaka.
The service operated from 1990 to 2011.[1]
Services
[edit]Tango Explorer services were generally run with three-car trains, though during peak holiday periods six-car trains (three paired sets) are used. When the Tango Explorer KTR001 series trainset was out of operation, KTR8000 series DMUs (used on the Tango Discovery service) or JNR 183 series EMUs were sometimes used.[citation needed]
Terminuses are in bold.
Shin-Osaka - Osaka - Amagasaki - Takarazuka - Sanda - (Shin-Sanda) - (Aino) - Sasayamaguchi - (Tanikawa) - Kaibara - (Kuroi) - Fukuchiyama - Ōe - Miyazu - Amanohashidate - Nodagawa - Tango-Ōmiya - Mineyama - Amino - Kumihama - Toyooka
- The Tango Explorer 2 stopped at Kuroi and Tanikawa.
- The Tango Explorer 3 stopped at Shin-Sanda, Aino, Tanikawa and Kuroi.
References
[edit]- ^ "京都丹後鉄道、タンゴ・エクスプローラー オマージュトレイン運行". ryoko-net.co.jp (in Japanese). 28 July 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2025.
Named trains of West Japan Railway Company | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | .svg){kind=logo} | |
| Limited express (daytime) | ||
| Limited express (overnight) | ||
| Limited express (commuter) | ||
| Rapid | ||
| Other | ||
| Discontinued | ||