The is a deluxe sleeping car

excursion train An excursion train is a chartered train run for a special event or purpose. Examples are trains to major sporting event, trains run for railfans or tourists, and special trains operated by the railway company for employees and prominent custo ...

operated by

Kyushu Railway Company The , also referred to as , is one of the seven constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services within Kyushu, Japan. It formerly operated the Beetle (JR Kyushu), Beetle hydrofoil service across th ...

(JR Kyushu) in Japan since October 2013.

Design

The overall design concept of the train was overseen by industrial designer

Eiji Mitooka is a Japanese industrial designer, illustrator, and managing director of the industrial design company . He also works as a design consultant for Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). Biography Mitooka graduated from Okayama Technical High Sch ...

. The name of the train is derived from the seven

prefectures A prefecture (from the Latin word, "''praefectura"'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain inter ...

of Kyushu and the fact that the train is made up of seven coaches. The dedicated diesel locomotive, DF200-7000, for the train was built by

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Minato, To ...

in Kobe, based on the

JR Freight Class DF200 The is a Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement Diesel–electric locomotive#Diesel–electric, diesel–electric locomotive type operated by the Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) and the Kyushu Railway Company. , JR Freight operates 48 Class DF2 ...

locomotive, modified for use in

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...

and finished in a livery of deep maroon. It was completed in July 2013. The coaches are based on the

817 series The is an AC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated on commuter and local services by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since 2001. The design was based on the earlier 815 series, with transverse seating replacing the previo ...

EMU body design and are mounted on 787 series EMU bogies. Manufacture of the passenger coaches was split between

Hitachi () is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1910 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is active in various industries, including digital systems, power and renewable ener ...

Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi 270px, Kudamatsu city center is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 56,892 in 26829 households and a population density of 640 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kudamatsu ...

, and JR Kyushu's Kokura Works in

Kitakyushu is a Cities of Japan, city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, Kitakyushu has an estimated population of 940,978, making it the second-largest city in both Fukuoka Prefecture and the island of Kyushu after the city of Fuk ...

Train formation

The train consists of the DF200-7000 locomotive and seven coaches: five

sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper (often ) is a railway passenger car (rail), passenger car that can accommodate all passengers in beds of one kind or another, for the purpose of sleeping. George Pullman was the main American innovator and owner of sl ...

s, a

lounge car A lounge car (sometimes referred to as a buffet lounge, buffet car, club car or grill car) is a type of passenger car on a train, in which riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable train seats to creat ...

, and a

dining car A dining car (American English) or a restaurant car (British English), also a diner, is a passenger railroad car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant. These cars provide the highest level of service of any rai ...

, with a total capacity of 28 passengers. The rear car of the train features two deluxe suites with observation windows at the end. All suites have their own toilets and shower facilities, designed in porcelain by the late

Sakaida Kakiemon XIV Sakaida Kakiemon XIV (), or Sakaida Masashi (26 August 1934 – 15 June 2013) was a Japanese potter, ceramicist and former Living National Treasure in Japan. The total cost of building the train was approximately 3 billion yen. The train is formed as follows. File:Mai77-7001 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaI 77-7001 (car 1) File:Mashifu77-7002 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaShiFu 77-7002 (car 2) File:Maine77-7003 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaINe 77-7003 (car 3) File:Maine77-7004 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaINe 77-7004 (car 4) File:Maine77-7005 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaINe 77-7005 (car 5) File:Maine77-7006 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaINe 77-7006 (car 6) File:Mainefu77-7007 at Aso Station 20131103.jpg, MaINeFu 77-7007 (car 7)

Route

The train operates on two-day and four-day circular tours of Kyushu, starting and finishing at

Hakata Station is a major railway station in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. It is the largest and busiest railway terminal in Kyushu, and is a gateway to other cities in Kyushu for travelers coming from Honshu by rail travel. The San'yō Shinkansen from Osaka en ...

. Coach tours are provided from various stations along the route.

2-day itinerary

;Day 1: → ;Day 2: → → Hakata

4-day itinerary

;Day 1: → ;Day 2: → → ;Day 3: → → ;Day 4: → → Hakata

History

The dedicated Class DF200-7000 diesel locomotive for this train was delivered to JR Kyushu's Oita Depot from the

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company is the Japanese rolling stock manufacturing subsidiary of Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Since beginning operations in 1906, the company has produced more than 90,000 railroad cars. Products As indicated by the company name, the company mainl ...

Kobe Kobe ( ; , ), officially , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's List of Japanese cities by population, seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Port of Toky ...

on 2 July 2013. Four coaches were delivered from Hitachi's

Kudamatsu 270px, Kudamatsu city center is a city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 56,892 in 26829 households and a population density of 640 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Kudamatsu ...

factory on 18 July 2013. The train entered revenue service on 15 October 2013. Introducing Kyushu to the world is a part of the train's purpose.

References

External links

* {{JR Kyushu trains Named passenger trains of Japan Kyushu Railway Company Railway services introduced in 2013 Railway coaches of Japan 2013 establishments in Japan Luxury trains