As a train geek, I wonder if there is any practical information transferred when translating various train names in Japan. Beside simple Futsuu (普通) or Kakutei (各停) which local train and Kyukou (急行) which is express train there are also:

Jynkyuu (準急), kaisoku(快速), tokkyu (特急), there are also tsuukin kaisoku (通勤快速), kukan tokyuu (区間特急), jyun kyukou (準急行), kaisoku tokkyu (快速特急), etc.

There are various naming of trains depending on stations train stops. However, in the U.S. and Europe it is simply local train or express train. If a train make stop at all stations then it is local train. If a train skip stations and get to destination faster than local trains then it is express train, no matter what is the station patter and how many stations a train skips.

But in Japan there are so many different kind of calling and they do literal translation by calling it semi-express of commuter express but I do not think it means much, or provide any useful information to English speakers when they first see that. I think important part of translation is that appropriate information is transferred from one to another.

Just add useless trivia. Before JR line it was called Kokutetsu (日本国有鉄道) and it was government entity.　　On April 1, 1987 Kokutetsu was privatized and become JR. Prior to 1987 JR was a government entity and there was Kokutetsu Law which governed the operation of Kokutetsu. Kokutetsu Law stated type of train operation and it listed only three: 普通(local), 急行(express), and 特別急行(limited express). Kokutetsu Law did not have such thing as Jynkyuu (準急) or Kaisoku (快速). Was used for service to passengers indicated that a train stops at more stations than express (急行) but still skip stations and faster than local (普通).

Obviously, private rail companies (私鉄) were not under Kokutetsu Law so that they could come up with carious creative calling such as 区間特急, 快速特急, etc.