Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) Coloring Pages

The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) Limited Express Heading to Kansai Airport

The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) is Nankai Electric Railway's airport limited express train that connects Namba Station in Osaka to Kansai Airport Station.
It debuted on September 4, 1994, right when Kansai International Airport opened on an island in the sea.
It runs from Namba to the airport in about 30 minutes.
The train model name is the 50000 series, and 6 cars make up one train.

A Blue Face That Looks Like a Helmet

The coolest feature of the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) is its round front that looks like a helmet.
A thin silver line runs down the middle of its face, and a thick bow-shaped frame surrounds it.
Because of this tough-looking face, train fans sometimes call it "Tetsujin 28-go" after a classic anime robot.
The whole train body is painted a deep blue color called Rapi:t Blue.

Round Windows Just Like an Airplane

If you look at the side of the train, all the windows are round oval shapes.
They were designed to look like airplane windows.
The first coloring page shows the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) passing through a station, seen from a front angle.
You can see a whole row of round windows behind the front car.
Try to find the 3 round lights next to its face, the 3 slots stretching toward the back, and the round rivets lined up near the bottom of the front car!

The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) Coming into the Station

The second picture shows the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) pulling into the station under lots of overhead power lines.
Because you are looking at it from an angle, the round windows on the side look thin and tall.
On top of the back car's roof, you can see the pantograph standing up to catch electricity.
The platform on the left and the signals lined up above are also drawn in the picture.

Two Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) Trains Running Toward You

The third picture shows two Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) trains running one behind the other along tracks in the city.
Looking from the front, you can clearly see its round face shape and the lights on the left and right.
Put this next to the coloring pages for the JR Limited Express Haruka that also goes to Kansai Airport, or the Narita Express and Tokyo Monorail that head to Tokyo's airports, and compare the faces of these airport trains!

Color the Train Body Deep Blue

The body of the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) is a deep blue called Rapi:t Blue.
If you use colored pencils, try layering navy blue or ultramarine neatly in the same direction.
If you leave a little bit of white on the rounded parts of its round face, it will look nice and shiny!
The train body is very wide, so colored pencils or crayons are easier to use than markers because they will not look streaky.

Color the Windows Sky Blue and Gray

Color the big window in the driver's cab and the round windows on the side with sky blue or light gray.
If you make the edges of the windows a little darker, they will look just like real glass!
If you color the thin stripe in the middle of its face silver or light gray, it will stand out nicely against the deep blue.

Color the Lights Red and White

The 3 round lights lined up on the side of its face glow white or red on the real train, depending on which way it is going.
If you color one red and another white or light yellow, it will look like it is really running!

Use Light Colors for the Background

On the 2nd and 3rd coloring pages, if you color the power poles and traffic signals lightly with gray, the blue Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) will really pop!
Try coloring the round lights on the traffic signal red, yellow, or green.
We recommend brown or gray for the stones on the tracks, and dark brown for the rails.
On the 3rd coloring page, if you color the buildings in the back with bright colors like cream or light orange, it will show how lively the city is!

The Name Means "Fast"

The name "Rapi:t" comes from a German word that means "fast."
The name was chosen from a contest where many people sent in their ideas.
It is the perfect name for a train that carries people quickly to the airport!

A Train Designed by an Architect

The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) was designed by an architect named Hiroyuki Wakabayashi.
It was made with a cool idea called "Retro-Future." This style combines the powerful look of an old-fashioned steam locomotive with the look of a vehicle from the future.
The deep blue color shows the sky and sea around Kansai Airport.
The paint on the train body even has tiny sparkling pieces of a mineral called mica in it!

The First Blue Ribbon Award for Nankai Electric Railway

In 1995, the year after its debut, the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) won the Blue Ribbon Award! This award is given to wonderful new train cars by a group of train fans called the Japan Railfan Club.
The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) was the very first train from Nankai Electric Railway to win this prize!

The Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) in Many Cool Designs

Sometimes, the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) becomes a wrapped train decorated with pictures from anime and movies!
In 2014, it teamed up with the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam UC," and a special train painted all in red went zooming down the tracks.
It is super fun to imagine the Rapi:t (Nankai 50000 series) in different colors instead of its usual deep blue, so try coloring it with your favorite colors!