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With the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga, the Thunderbird Express has been shortened to run between Osaka and Tsuruga, but some say that "Shinkaisoku is enough." Some question the reason for its existence, but both passengers and JR West are reluctant to abolish the express service. The Shinkaisoku has a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour, the same as the conventional express trains. While it operates at high speed in the Keihanshin area, it stops at every station on half the section of the Kosei Line. The journey time between Osaka and Tsuruga is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The express train takes about 50 minutes, so the major disadvantage is that it takes almost twice as long. Although the train has reversible cross seats, it is nowhere near as comfortable as the reclining seats of the express trains. #Shinkaisoku Image source: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan Map, https://maps.gsi.go.jp/ (partially edited before posting)