JR Limited Express Thunderbird 13 from Osaka to Kyoto Train Review
The Limited Express Thunderbird is a trunk fast train service between Osaka and Kanazawa or Wakuraonsen via Tsuruga. My original plan was to get the Limited Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga just for a joyride, since my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass is valid till there, but alas, there were no reserved seats available on the morning of the day of travel, as I did not make an early seat reservation, thinking that Thunderbird trains are frequent anyway. To cut my losses and to spend more time in Kyoto and Kobe instead, I took Limited Express Thunderbird 13 anyway, but only in a non-reserved seat to Kyoto.
Osaka Station
The Limited Express Thunderbird departs from Osaka Station Platform 11.
During my visit, the Limited Express Thunderbird was still running at a reduced frequency with some alternate trains cancelled, which means that trains run only an average of once per hour. This was probably the source of why reserved seats were quickly booked up.
The proper frequency and new timetable has since been restored with the timetable update on 18 March 2023.
JR Thunderbird 13 from Osaka to Kanazawa
My Limited Express Thunderbird 13 was already waiting for departure as I had arrived just in time.
Thunderbird Green Car
The Green Car on board Limited Express Thunderbird has big seats in a 2+1 formation.
Thunderbird Ordinary Car
The Ordinary Cars on board Limited Express Thunderbird has regular seats in a 2+1 formation.
Cars 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 are reserved seats. Cars 5 and 6 are non-reserved seats.
I was lucky to find the one and only empty pair of seats in the non-reserved seat cars.
The legroom on board the Limited Express Thunderbird Ordinary Car.
A tray table and coat hook is available on the seat back in front of me.
A side flip-up table is also available from the side armrest.
Shin-Osaka Station
Making a brief stop at Shin-Osaka Station.
The Limited Express Thunderbird 13 got full from Shin-Osaka Station, but there were minimal standees.
Departing from Shin-Osaka Station.
Crossing over the Kanzaki River.
The Osaka Higashi Line splits off from here.
As I am travelling in a non-reserved seat, there is no booking needed to be made with my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass. However, on-board ticket checks are made by the conductor, and my pass needs to be shown to him as a valid travelling ticket.
As this was a short journey, I did a short and simple walkabout, mainly to use the toilet. The accessible toilet was occupied with a queue for it, hence I did not bother to wait.
A male urinal cubicle is available.
A wash basin is available along the corridor.
Passing by a wide variety of trains stabling in JR West Suita General Rolling Stock Depot Kyoto Branch.
Passing through Mukōmachi Station.
Passing by a fast Special Rapid Train service in the opposing direction. While a regular commuter train, the Special Rapid Train service is equally as fast as a limited express train on the Osaka-Kyoto sector, sometimes even beating the arrival time due to the high frequency as compared to waiting for a limited express train.
Passing by the Tokaido Shinkansen tracks.
Kyoto Station
Arriving at Kyoto Station.
As this was going to be a quick stop, I made my way to the door in good time to alight.
My Thunderbird 13 arrived at Kyoto Station at 10.10am – 1 minute delayed.
A crew change was done at Kyoto. I’m surprised that it’s already done since it’s such a short sector as compared to the rest of the distance to Kanazawa the Thunderbird 13 will be covering.
The Thunderbird 13 departed from Kyoto Station at 10.11am – 2 minutes delayed.
Walking down Platform 0 of Kyoto Station. Platform 0 may be a rare number, but it is frequently used by the Limited Express Thunderbird and Limited Express Shinano for boarding, and for other terminating limited express trains at Kyoto.
Alternative: JR Special Rapid Service
If you do not wish to check a timetable, the Special Rapid Service plies the same route every 15 minutes with similar travel times. Seats, however, aren’t as comfortable as a limited express train, and you will have to stand if it gets crowded.
As I will be heading to the Kyoto Railway Museum, I did a transfer within Kyoto Station to the Sagano Line, departing from Platforms 31, 32, or 33. Despite the big number difference, the Sagano Line are on bay platforms, on the same platform-concourse as Platform 0’s thoroughfare track, and no crossing of track is required.
Conclusion
If the timetable fits, the Limited Express Thunderbird is certainly a comfortable way to travel from Osaka to Kyoto. Despite being in a rather full non-reserved seat car, a limited express non-reserved seat is more comfortable than standing on the JR Special Rapid Service. This is only possible with a pass like my JR Sanyo-San’in Northern Kyushu Area Pass, otherwise, the costs involved in paying for a limited express train for such a short distance will not make sense financially.