Plarail expands with McDonald's collaboration and regional tourism sets

Takara Tomy is expanding its Plarail toy brand through new promotional collaborations and specialized regional product lines.

McDonald's has launched a Plarail-themed Happy Set series starting September 11. The collection features nine different train models, including the 923 series Doctor Yellow, Kintetsu Meihan Limited Express Hinotori, and the E5 series Shinkansen Hayabusa. The series has gained significant attention from adult railway enthusiasts, particularly due to the inclusion of the Tobu 8000 series. The toys include interactive features such as visible seating and AR-enabled gameplay via smartphone scanning.

Additionally, Takara Tomy announced the “Local Vehicle Series” (Gotouchi Sharyo Series) scheduled for release on September 19, 2026. This series focuses on regional tourism by pairing famous landmarks with local trains. The first installment includes sets themed after Asakusa, featuring the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line 1000 series and Kaminarimon, and Kyoto, featuring the Keihan Electric Railway 10000 series and Fushimi Inari Shrine. To emphasize the regional connection, these sets will be sold exclusively through physical retail locations in the Kanto and Kinki regions rather than through general e-commerce platforms.