Nankai Electric Railway Decides To Introduce A Next-Generation Airport Express Train For The Opening Of The Naniwasuji Line
Creating A New Flagship For Nankai Together With Italy’s Pininfarina
August 6, 2026 – Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (President: Satoshi Kajitani; “Nankai”) has decided to introduce a new airport limited express train that will be capable of operating on the Naniwasuji Line.
Since commencing service on September 4, 1994, the rapi:t limited express, connecting Osaka-Namba and Kansai International Airport, has served approximately 76 million passengers (as of the end of June 2026) and has become a symbol of Nankai as the railway company providing airport access services.
As we look to the future, Nankai has decided to introduce a next-generation airport express train that will inherit the value and spirit cultivated by rapi:t over more than 30 years, while also serving as a new flagship of the NANKAI Group in a new era marked by the opening of the Naniwasuji Line.
To realize this vision, Nankai will collaborate with Italy’s Pininfarina as its design partner for the new train.
Since its founding in 1930, Pininfarina has spent 96 years creating designs for world-renowned brands including Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and Honda, producing numerous iconic creations admired across generations.
Nankai selected Pininfarina not simply as a design company, but as a partner capable of giving form to a brand’s essence and creating values that endure through time. We share Pininfarina’s philosophy of creating timeless appeal and therefore chose the company as a partner to help carry forward the value established by Rapiat while creating a new symbol that represents Nankai in a new era. This project also marks the first time that Pininfarina has been involved in the design of a railway vehicle in Japan. The train is planned to carry the Pininfarina emblem, a globally recognized symbol of excellence in Italian design.
By bringing together the history, philosophies, and design cultures cultivated by both companies and combining more than 200 years of heritage, we will carry the value of rapi:t into the future and take on the challenge of creating a flagship train that symbolizes a new era for Nankai.
Further details regarding the train design, concept, and other features will be announced as they become available.
Comments
Satoshi Kajitani, President, Nankai Electric Railway
We aspire to create a new limited express airport train worthy of serving the gateway connecting Kansai and the world. With this vision in mind, we are taking on the challenge of realizing the next generation of airport access services.
Since the opening of Kansai International Airport in 1994, the rapid airport express has served countless customers. While inheriting the value and spirit that rapi:t has built over the years, we aim for the next-generation airport express to become a railway vehicle that is loved across generations and recognized as one of Japan’s representative trains.
To achieve this vision, we are partnering with Pininfarina, a company that has been creating globally admired designs for more than 96 years. By combining the shared aspirations of both companies to create enduring value, we will deliver a new era of airport limited express service that is worthy of Kansai’s gateway status and possesses appeal recognized around the world.
Paolo Dellachà, Chief Executive Officer, Pininfarina
We are proud to partner with Nankai Electric Railway on a project that marks a significant milestone for Pininfarina: the first train we have ever designed for Japan, a nation with which we have shared a deep and enduring connection for many years. This collaboration allows us to bring to a new market the expertise we have developed over decades in railway design, from the pioneering ETR 500 high-speed train in Italy to projects across Europe, including the Eurostar e320 connecting London to Paris. We believe that great transportation design should seamlessly combine beauty, innovation, comfort and efficiency, and we are excited to help shape a new travel experience that reflects both the ambitions of Nankai Electric Railway and the distinctive design heritage of Pininfarina. We are also proud that the new train will carry the Pininfarina badge, expressing the authenticity of our contribution and our commitment to this landmark project.
Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1885 as Japan’s oldest privately funded railway company, Nankai Electric Railway serves approximately 240 million passengers annually and operates a 169 km rail network connecting central Osaka with Kansai International Airport, Wakayama, and Mount Koya, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Through its transportation infrastructure and mobility services, the company contributes to sustainable regional development and enhances the value of communities along its railway network.
Nankai Electric Railway is part of the NANKAI Group, a diversified enterprise with operations in transportation, real estate, retail, and leisure services. The Group employs approximately 9,200 people and generates annual operating revenue of approximately JPY 260 billion.
https://nankai.co.jp/en_railway
Pininfarina Company Profile
A global icon of Italian design, Pininfarina is renowned for its unique ability to create timeless beauty through its core values of elegance, purity, and innovation. Founded in 1930, Pininfarina is an international design group, the ultimate expression of automotive style and a consolidated player in industrial and experience design, architecture, nautical design, and mobility beyond the automotive sector. The Group counts 500 employees, with offices in Italy, Germany, China, and the United States, and has been listed on the stock exchange since 1986. Over more than nine decades, Pininfarina has designed over 1,450 vehicles for prestigious automotive brands such as Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce, and Honda, among others. The company has also delivered landmark projects such as the Istanbul Airport Air Traffic Control Tower, along with more than 750 product design and architectural projects, earning over 90 international design awards in the past decade.
Overview of the “Rapi:t” Airport Limited Express
Rapi:t began its operation as an airport limited express train on September 4, 1994, in conjunction with the opening of Kansai International Airport (KIX).
The train was designed by product designer and architect Hiroyuki Wakabayashi (1949-2026) and was developed based on the concepts of “Access Lobby,” “Dandy & Elegance,” and “Retro-Future.” In October 1995, it received the prestigious Blue Ribbon Award presented by the Japan Railfan Club.
The train name “Rapi:t” was selected from among 30,000 entries submitted by the public, and it means “fast” in German.
In addition to providing access to Kansai International Airport, Rapi:t has become Nankai Electric Railway’s flagship limited express service. Since commencing service, it has served approximately 76 million passengers in total (as of the end of June 2026).
