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Inpublic transport, alimited express is a specialexpress train orbus service that makes fewer stops (hence “limited”) than local,limited-stop, and regular express services along the same corridor. Limited expresses are typically the most direct service on a line, serving only major destinations such ascentral andinterchange stations, making them the fastest option forinter-city travelers.
The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese compound nountokubetsu kyūkō (特別急行);lit. 'special express', most often abbreviatedtokkyū (特急), although some operators translate the word differently.
Limited express trains can be categorized into two types,intercity andcommuter, although railway companies rarely formalize this distinction. The former type of trains generally use long-distance coaches, better equipped than other ordinary express trains, and may include reserved seating, dining cars, food and beverage cars, and "green cars" (first-class cars). The latter type usually incurs no surcharge, but seating tends to be first-come, first-served, as this type of train uses commuter train coaches. Both types of trains travel faster and stop at fewer stations than "express" (急行kyūkō) or "local" (普通futsū or 各駅停車kaku-eki teisha) services.
Until 1972, theHikari on theTōkaidō Shinkansen was officially achōtokkyū (超特急) "super express" (lit. 'beyond limited express') and was priced higher than theKodama, the limited express service on the same line. Presently, allShinkansen services are officially limited expresses, but are referred to as "super express" in English.
The table below summarizes limited express services on major Japanese railways (Japan Railways Group companies,Toei Transport, and the 16 majorprivate railways, minusTokyo Metro which does not operate limited express trains).
| Region | Railway | Train type | Surcharge | Picture (example) | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Japanese | |||||
| Nationwide | JR Group companies | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes |  | Lists of services can be found at: |
| Commuter Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū (JR West only) | |||||
| Kantō | Toei | Airport Limited Express | Eapōto Kaitoku | No |  | These services operate on theToei Asakusa Line. Only the Airport Limited Express makes limited stops on the Toei Asakusa Line, while others stop at every station but indicatethrough service into either Keisei or Keikyu Lines. |
| Limited Express | Kaitoku, Kaisoku Tokkyū, Tokkyū | |||||
| Access Express | Akusesu Tokkyū | |||||
| Commuter Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū | |||||
| Tobu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes |  | Branded with the namesSPACIA (Tobu 100 series),SPACIA X (Tobu N100 series),Revaty (Tobu 500 series), andRYOMO (Tobu 200 series). Limited express services with no surcharge on theTōbu Tōjō Line were discontinued in June 2008. | |
| Seibu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes |  | Branded asLaview (Seibu 001 series). | |
| Keisei | Limited Express | Kaisoku Tokkyū, Tokkyū | No |  | Skyliner,Morningliner,Eveningliner andCityliner limited express services are classed higher than conventional limited express trains and are charged. | |
| Access Express | Akusesu Tokkyū | |||||
| Commuter Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū | |||||
| Keio | Special Express | Tokkyū | No |  | TheKeio Liner is classed higher than Special Express and are charged. "Semi Special-Express" (Juntokkyū) services were discontinued in 2021.[1] | |
| Odakyu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes |  | Branded asRomancecar. Some limited express services operate on theTokyo Metro network, which operate no limited express services of their own. | |
| Tokyu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No |  | S-Train services fromSeibu Railway, which are classed higher than Tokyu limited express services and are charged, operate on Tokyu'sTōyoko Line. | |
| Commuter Limited Express, Commuter Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū | |||||
| Keikyu | Limited Express | Kaitoku, Tokkyū | No |  | Keikyu Wing andMorning Wing services are classed higher than limited express and are charged. | |
| Airport Limited Express | Eapōto Kaitoku | |||||
| Sōtetsu (Sagami Railway) | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No |  | ||
| Chūbu | Meitetsu (Nagoya Railroad) | μSKY Limited Express | Myū-Sukai | Yes |  | Trains consist of first-class cars (charged) only. |
| Rapid Limited Express | Kaisoku Tokkyū | Partially | Some cars are charged. | |||
| Limited Express | Tokkyū | |||||
| Kansai, Chūbu | Kintetsu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Yes |  | Some trains, like theHinotori (Kintetsu 80000 series), require an additional "premium car" fare on top of the charged express fare. |
| Sightseeing Limited Express | Kankō Tokkyū |  | Designation for trains brandedAONIYOSHI (Kintetsu 12200 series),Shimakaze (Kintetsu 50000 series), andBlue Symphony (Kintetsu 16200 series). | |||
| Kansai | Nankai | Limited Express | Tokkyū | Some trains |  | Rapi:t,Koya,Rinkan, andSenboku Liner services consist of reserved seat cars (charged) only. |
| Keihan | Limited Express | Tokkyū,Kaisoku Tokkyū | No |  | As of August 2017, one first-class car (calledPremium Car) is present on all Limited Express services. | |
| Liner | Liner | Yes | ||||
| Hankyu | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No |  | "Semi-Limited Express" (Juntokkyū) services also operate. | |
| Commuter Limited Express | Tsūkin Tokkyū | |||||
| Rapid Limited Express | Kaisoku Tokkyū | |||||
| Rapid Limited Express A | Kaisoku Tokkyū A | |||||
| Hanshin | Limited Express | Tokkyū, Chokutsū Tokkyū, Kukan Tokkyū, | No |  | ||
| Kyushu | Nishitetsu (Nishi-Nippon Railroad) | Limited Express | Tokkyū | No |  | |
In Australia, particularly inMelbourne, selectivecommuter trains often skip smaller stations duringpeak hours, primarily for the purpose of more efficient delivery of passengers tointerchange stations, or higher-patronage stations. 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; these trains are more properlylimited-stop services. 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-hauled provincial expresses, limited express services were common on high traffic routes. TheNight Limited was the premier express train on theNorth Island Main Trunk Railway betweenAuckland, andWellington from 1924 until 1971; during peak seasons, it was augmented by theDaylight Limited. Following theNight Limited was 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 Limited express ran three days a week fromChristchurch throughDunedin toInvercargill, 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 eveningrailcar between Christchurch and Dunedin operated by NZR's88 seater, orVulcan Class 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 Express schedule was accelerated in 1930 and its carriages upgraded, it was re-branded as theRotorua Limited. Due to theGreat Depression and 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 Limited and theSouth Island Limited in 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 Star performed 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[update],Auckland Transport introduced limited express services on theOnehunga Line. These services operate until 7:30 pm on weekdays, bypassing Parnell, Remuera and Greenlane stations.[2]
There were trains under theManila Railroad Company and thePhilippine National Railways that were called "Limited Express" or simply "Limited", as well asSpecial andExpress trains that nonetheless stopped at fewer stations.[3] 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 inLuzon unlike regular expresses. They were given the highest priority, dedicated rolling stock, and the highest level of comfort and amenities.[4]
The North Main Line had theIlocos Special and theAmianan Night Express that 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 station in downtownManila andLegazpi station inAlbay.[5] Other examples on the South Main Line include thePeñafrancia Express,[4] theIsarog/Manila Limited,[6] 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 Railway and the new South Main Line under the South Long Haul project will both feature "limited express" services. Both limited expresses will run onstandard-gauge track and will use dedicated rolling stock capable of running at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour (99 mph) orhigher-speed rail.[7][8] For the North–South Commuter Railway (NSCR), anairport express train will connectClark International Airport withAlabang station inMuntinlupa, skipping all the other stations inCentral Luzon and 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 units as the regular commuter service.
To the south of the NSCR, theBicol Express flagship service of thePNR South Long Haul was originally proposed as a limited express service in 2018.[9] However, a new basic design report released in June 2021 reclassified the services into two groups: Local and Express. The newBicol Express service has since been relegated to a regularexpress train service.[10]
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 York andWashington, 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 Subway operated 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 Road operates somerush hour trains that run 50 miles between the central city station and the first stop of its express route itinerary, for instance, on theRonkonkoma Line.[11] TheMetro-North Railroad runs some rush hour trains that run 29 miles between the central city and the first stop of their route itinerary on theHudson Line and theNew Haven Line.
Due to the wide availability of service on theNortheast Regional andAcela Express, most of Amtrak's medium- and long-distance trains operating along theNortheast Corridor only stop to discharge passengers fromWashington Union Station (or in some cases,Alexandria Union Station) northward, and to receive passengers fromNewark Penn Station southward.
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).
| Railway | Train type | Surcharge | Picture (example) | Line | Section | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | |||||
| Korail | Limited Express | 특급(特急) (Teukgeup) | No |  | Seoul Subway Line 1 (Gyeongin Line) | Yongsan ~Dongincheon |
| ITX-Cheongchun | ITX-청춘(靑春) (ITX-Cheongchun) | Yes |  | Gyeongchun Line | Yongsan ~Chuncheon | |
| Seoul Metro | Limited Express | 급행(急行) (Geuphaeng) | No |  | Seoul Subway Line 9 | Gimpo International Airport ~VHS Medical Center |
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.