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Asia Express

Asia Express
Asia Express (2).jpg
The Asia Express
Overview
Service type Limited express
Status Discontinued
Locale Manchukuo
First service November 1934
Last service 28 February 1943
Former operator(s) South Manchuria Railway
Route
Start Dalian
Stops 9
End Harbin
Distance travelled 943.3 km (586.1 mi)
Average journey time 13 hours, 5 minutes
On-board services
Class(es) 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Catering facilities Dining car
Observation facilities Tail-end observation carriage
Other facilities Lounge
Technical
  • Pashina class locomotive
  • One baggage/mail carriage
  • Two 3rd class carriage(s)
  • One dining car
  • One 2nd class carriage
  • One 1st class observation carriage
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Operating speed Max: 120 km/h (75 mph)
Avg: 80 km/h (50 mph)

The Asia Express (Japanese: あじあ号 Ajia-gō, Chinese: 亚细亚号, Yàxìyà hào) was an express passenger train operated by the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu) from 1934 until 1943. This limited express, which began operation in November 1934 and was Mantetsu's most iconic train, operated in Manchukuo between Dalian and Xinjing, and was extended to Harbin in 1935.

Comparable to the fastest express trains in Europe and the United States, the Asia Express featured several world firsts, such as fully enclosed, air-conditioned carriages, and was envisioned as being the first step in building a network of high-speed trains extending as far as Singapore. In addition to showcasing Japanese technology, it served as a symbol of technology and modernism in Manchukuo, and was used to demonstrate the success of Japan's imperial project. It was featured prominently on fliers, posters, and even postage stamps, and Manchukuo children's textbooks included passages about it. Reporters from the United States rode the inaugural train, complimenting it on its speed and luxurious comfort, and praised Mantetsu's efforts at developing Manchukuo.

When Manchukuo was established in 1932, a railway line owned by the South Manchuria Railway (Mantetsu) connected the capital, Xinjing, to the major port city of Dalian, where ferries connected to Japan, and to bring service on this line up to the world standard, the "Asia Express" service was devised. Planning and development was carried out in a relatively short period of time between 1933 and 1934. A contest was held to name the new train, and "Asia Express" was selected from amongst 30,066 submitted entries.

An accident on 30 October 1938 at Taipingshan killed one crew member and seriously injured two, but there were only slight injuries amongst the passengers.


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