Japan's Famous 'Doctor Yellow' Trains to Retire
Seeing the doctor doesn't always make you feel happy — unless you're seeing "Doctor Yellow"!
In fact, many people in Japan believe that if you catch a glimpse of one of the bright yellow high-speed trains known as Doctor Yellow, it will make you happy, and perhaps bring you luck.
The color yellow symbolizes happiness in Japan.
But it will soon be the end of the line for these popular trains, which are yellow so they're easy to see at night. They're used to test the Shinkansen bullet train tracks and check for problems, including after earthquakes.
Central Japan Railway (JR Central) and West Japan Railway (JR West) have announced they'll be taking their yellow trains off the tracks because they've gotten too old.
The Shinkansen's newer passenger trains are able to check the tracks as they use them, so Doctor Yellow isn't needed as much.
Both companies have one yellow train each. JR Central will stop running its "Doctor" from January 2025, while JR West will stop using its train in 2027.
However, JR Central said it will let some fans ride its yellow train before the end of the year. The trains, which can travel at speeds of up to 270 kilometers per hour, don't usually carry passengers.
JR Central will also be holding farewell events so people can say goodbye!
Part of the excitement of seeing one of the trains is that although they run regularly — about once every 10 days — no timetables are published, so nobody knows when they'll go by.
People on social media were sad to hear that the Doctor Yellow trains will be retiring.
One person called it "the end of an era," while others hoped they may get one last chance to see one of the trains before they go.
