Limited express

Alimited expressis a type ofexpress trainorexpress busservice that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes.
The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese compound nountokubetsu kyūkō(特別急行);lit.'special express'; often abbreviated astokkyū(特急), though some operators translate the word differently.
There are two types of limited express trains:intercity, andcommuter. The former type of limited express trains generally use long-distance coaches, equipped better than other ordinary express trains, including reserved seating, dining cars, food and beverage cars, and "green cars" (first class cars). The latter type of limited express train usually incurs no surcharge, but seating is usually first-come, first-served, since this type of train uses commuter train coaches. Both types of trains travel faster and stop at fewer stations.
Until 1972, theHikarion theTōkaidō Shinkansenwas officially achōtokkyū(超特急), that is, "beyond limited express" or "super express", and was priced higher than theKodama, the limited express on the same line. Presently allShinkansenservices are officially limited express, but are usually referred to as "super express" in English.
The table below summarises the limited expresses on major Japanese railways (JR Group,Toei, and 16 majorprivate railwaysminus one major private railway that does not operate limited express, which isTokyo Metro).
In Australia, particularly inMelbourne, selectivecommuter trainsoften skip smaller stations duringpeak hours, primarily for the purpose of more efficient delivery of passengers tointerchange stations, or higher-patronagestations. However, generally limited express trains only skip a small number of stations while express trains run non-stop on a large section of the line, contrary to Japan's definition. InBrisbane, andSydney, limited stop services are formed by commuter trains that run as limited stops or express services from the city centre to the edge of the suburban area and then as all stops in the interurban area (an example of such an express pattern can be seen on theGold Coast line).
In the era ofsteam-hauledprovincial expresses, limited express services were common on high traffic routes. TheNight Limitedwas the premier express train on theNorth Island Main Trunk RailwaybetweenAuckland, andWellingtonfrom 1924 until 1971; during peak seasons, it was augmented by theDaylight Limited. Following theNight Limitedwas a slower unnamed express that stopped at more stations and provided a lower level of comfort.
A different pattern was employed on theMain South Line. TheSouth Island Limitedexpress ran three days a week fromChristchurchthroughDunedintoInvercargill, with a slower regular express operating on the other four days. Both regular and limited expresses were augmented by additional services between intermediate destinations, such as an eveningrailcarbetween Christchurch and Dunedin operated by NZR's88 seater, orVulcanClass Railmotors.
Limited expresses were rare beyond the main trunk routes and the regular provincial expresses were typically augmented with even slowermixed trains. However, when theRotorua Expressschedule was accelerated in 1930 and its carriages upgraded, it was re-branded as theRotorua Limited. Due to theGreat Depressionand rising car ownership levels, it did not achieve the level of success intended, thus in 1937 it reverted to the status and service pattern of a regular express.
After the demise of theNight Limitedand theSouth Island Limitedin 1971, the term "limited express" fell into disuse in New Zealand and has not been applied to any subsequent trains. However, from 1971 to 1979, theSilver Starperformed the role of a limited express as it operated to a faster schedule than a supplementary slower service that was known from 1975 as theNortherner.
As of 13 March 2017,Auckland Transportintroduced limited express services on theOnehunga Line. These services operate until 7:30 pm on weekdays, bypassing Parnell, Remuera and Greenlane stations.
There were trains under theManila Railroad Companyand thePhilippine National Railwaysthat were called "Limited Express" or simply "Limited", as well asSpecialandExpresstrains that nonetheless stopped at fewer stations.The first of such services were introduced in the 1950s and peaked in the 1970s. They only stop at major stations along the two intercity main lines inLuzonunlike regular expresses. They were given the highest priority, dedicated rolling stock, and the highest level of comfort and amenities.
The North Main Line had theIlocos Specialand theAmianan Night Expressthat ran between 1973 and 1984, then the fastest services in the PNR and stopped at fewer stations compared to theDagupan Express. Meanwhile, the secondBicol Express, opened in 1954, only stopped at 8 out of 66 stations of the line betweenTutuban stationin downtownManilaandLegazpi stationinAlbay.Other examples on the South Main Line include thePeñafrancia Express,theIsarog/Manila Limited,and theMayon Limited, all of these were defunct by 2013 when all intercity rail was discontinued in favour of building a new line.
There are plans to revive the "limited express" trains. TheNorth–South Commuter Railwayand the new South Main Line under the South Long Haul project will both feature "limited express" services. Both limited expresses will run onstandard-gauge trackand will use dedicated rolling stock capable of running at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph) orhigher-speed rail.For the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR), anairport express trainwill connectClark International AirportwithAlabang stationinMuntinlupa, skipping all the other stations inCentral Luzonand only stopping at four other stations inMetro Manila. In comparison, the "Commuter Express" services on the NSCR will serve more stations but will use the sameelectric multiple unitsas the regular commuter service.
To the south of the NSCR, theBicol Expressflagship service of thePNR South Long Haulwas originally proposed as a limited express service in 2018.However, a new basic design report released in June 2021 reclassified the services into two groups: Local and Express. The newBicol Expressservice has since been relegated to a regularexpress trainservice.
Some of the most elite trains in the United States in the twentieth century were called "limited", a name that typically graced overnight trains that made very few stops. (However, the fastest train betweenNew YorkandWashington, DC, a day train, in the Pennsylvania Railroad era was called theCongressional Limited Express, and it had few stops, like the longer distance "Limiteds".)
Some limiteds of America have included:
From September 23, 1978, to April 15, 1990, theNew York City Subwayoperated a limited express premium-fare subway service from Manhattan toJFK, which was called theJFK Express. The subway service made express stops at subway stations in Manhattan andone subway station in Brooklyn, before running nonstop toHoward Beach-JFK Airport, where transfers to free airport shuttle buses were provided. The JFK Express proved to be unsuccessful, seeing low ridership in part because the service did not actually serve any airline terminals.
Some commuter railroads operate express trains making limited stops. TheLong Island Rail Roadoperates somerush hourtrains that run 50 miles between the central city station and the first stop of its express route itinerary, for instance, on theRonkonkoma Line.TheMetro-North Railroadruns some rush hour trains that run 29 miles between the central city and the first stop of their route itinerary on theHudson Lineand theNew Haven Line.
Due to the wide availability of service on theNortheast RegionalandAcela Express,most of Amtrak's medium- and long-distance trains operating along theNortheast Corridoronly stop to discharge passengers fromWashington Union Station(or in some cases,Alexandria Union Station) northward, and to receive passengers fromNewark Penn Stationsouthward.
The term "Limited Express" is 특급 (特急,Teukgeup) in Korean. Limited express trains stop at fewer stations than regular express trains (급행, 急行,Geuphaeng).
The Sriwijaya train (or also known as the Sriwijaya Limited Express (Limex) train, which means the Sriwijaya Limited Express (Patas) train) is a passenger train service operated by PT Kereta Api Indonesia to serve the Palembang Kertapati-Tanjungkarang line and vice versa.