View source for Rapi:t

{{short description|Airport rail link serving Osaka, Japan}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{italictitle}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Rapi:t''
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Nankai 50000 series 50002F.jpg
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = A Nankai 50000 series ''Rapi:t'' train in October 2017
| type            = [[Airport rail link]]<br />(Limited express)
| status          = Operating
| locale          = [[Osaka Prefecture]], Japan
| first           = 4 September 1994
| last            = 
| operator        = Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
| ridership       = 
| start           = Namba
| stops           = 4 (α services for Airport)<br />6 (β services)
| end             = Kansai Airport
| distance        = 
| journeytime     = 
| frequency       = 
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = Nankai Main Line, Airport Line
| class           = 
| access          = 
| seating         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = [[Nankai 50000 series|50000 series EMUs]]
| gauge           = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| el              = 1,500 V DC, overhead line
| speed           = {{Convert|120|km/h|round=5|abbr=on}}
| routenumber     = 
}}
[[image:Nankai 50000 series 201405040809 Neo Xeon.jpg|thumb|A ''Rapi:t'' train repainted in a red ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn|Gundam Neo Zeon]]'' livery to mark the 20th anniversary]]

{{nihongo|'''''Rapi:t'''''|ラピート|rapiito|extra= stylized as '''''rapiːt'''''}} is a limited express train service between [[Kansai International Airport]] and [[Namba Station]] in [[Osaka, Osaka|Osaka]], [[Japan]]. It is operated by [[Nankai Electric Railway]], and the train service uses the [[Nankai Main Line]] and the [[Nankai Airport Line|Airport Line]].

The futuristic and [[Retro style|retro-style]] six-car ''Rapi:t'' train sets, officially designated as the [[Nankai 50000 series]], were designed by architect [[Wakabayashi Hiroyuki]] and won the Blue Ribbon Prize in 1995, one year after entering service.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}.

==Station stops==
There are two classes of ''Rapi:t'' services. ''Rapi:t β'' (beta) takes 37 minutes from Namba to Kansai Airport, stopping at Shin-Imamiya, Tengachaya, Sakai, Kishiwada, Izumisano, and Rinkū Town. ''Rapi:t α'' (alpha) takes 34 minutes, stopping at Shin-Imamiya, Tengachaya, Izumisano, and Rinku Town. All seats are reserved and non-smoking.

4 ''α'' trains depart Namba for Kansai Airport on weekday mornings (6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00), and 6 depart Kansai Airport for Namba from 20:00 (2 per hour). ''β'' trains depart Namba for Kansai Airport every day, 1 per hour from 7:00 until 10:00 and 2 per hour from 10:00, and 1 or 2 depart Kansai Airport for Namba by 20:00.

*''Rapi:t α'': [[Namba Station]] - [[Shin-Imamiya Station]] - [[Tengachaya Station]] - [[Izumisano Station]] - [[Rinkū Town Station]] - [[Kansai Airport Station]]
*''Rapi:t β'': Namba Station - Shin-Imamiya Station - Tengachaya Station - [[Sakai Station]] - [[Kishiwada Station]] - Izumisano Station - Rinkū Town Station - Kansai Airport Station

==History==
[[File:Rapit_inside.jpg|thumb|282x282px|A ''Rapi:t'' train interior]]
The ''Rapi:t'' service was inaugurated on 4 September 1994 using 6-car Nankai 50000 series EMUs.

''Rapi:t'' services were suspended on 4 September 2018 due to the effects of [[Typhoon Jebi]] causing damage to the airport and the [[Sky Gate Bridge R]] being damaged by an empty fuel tanker.<ref>{{Cite web |last=産経新聞 |date=2018-09-05 |title= |script-title=ja:【台風21号】JR西、関西空港線で当面運転見合わせ 南海も始発から一部で運休 |trans-title=JR West suspends operations on Kansai Airport Line for the time being; Nankai also suspends some services |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20180904-XQNS4WUBTRIA7KJVYADEYQHRJM/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Sankei Shimbun |language=ja}}</ref> Services to the airport were completely restored on 18 September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-18 |title= |script-title=ja:関空鉄道、２週間ぶり再開　旅客便運航回復前にアクセス大幅改善 |trans-title=Kansai Airport Railway resumes for the first time in two weeks; access improvements before passenger flights recover |url=https://www.sankei.com/west/news/180918/wst1809180007-n1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918054439/https://www.sankei.com/west/news/180918/wst1809180007-n1.html |archive-date=2018-09-18 |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Sankei Shimbun |language=ja}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Haruka (train)|Haruka]]'', limited-express service operated by JR West to Kansai Airport

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20141026122649/http://www.howto-osaka.com.e.iv.hp.transer.com/top/railway/kansai-airport/ Kansai International Airport access] - Nankai Railway Official Website in English "How to enjoy Osaka"

{{Airport rail links in Japan}}

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[[Category:Nankai Group]]
[[Category:Airport rail links in Japan]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Osaka Prefecture]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of Japan]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Japan]]

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