On October 24th of this year, Switzerland and Japan celebrated the sister railway agreement between the Nankai Electric Railway and the Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB). Present at the signing ceremony were the Ambassador of Switzerland to Japan Jean-François Paroz, representatives of both railway companies, members of the media, and all who took part in the birth and growth of this special partnership.
MOB is based out of Montreux, a city on Lake Leman and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Switzerland. It operates a tourism express, the “Golden Pass Line”, which takes you across beautiful pastoral sceneries. Nankai is based in Japan and branches out from Osaka towards the South of the country, with connections to Wakayama and Kansai International Airport.
These two railways lines have more in common than meets the eye: faring over steep mountainous areas, they bring one closer to some of the most beautiful World Cultural Heritage Sites in the world, like the Lavaux vineyards in Switzerland and Mount Koya in Nankai. The new sister railway partnership is expected to increase the number of visitors to both of these localities, as well as developing the areas along the railways to welcome more international tourists.
The President of Nankai Electric Railway, Mr. Teruhiko Achikita, and the Director General of MOB Mr. Georges Oberson both expressed their enthusiasm for this new partnership, and have great hopes for further cooperation between their two countries, in all fields.
Existing sister railways between Switzerland and Japan are: Oigawa Railway and Brienz Rothorn Railway, Hakone Tozan Railway and Rhaetian Railway, Fuji Railway and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn.
