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The Aru Ressha (或る列車) is a two-car deluxe excursion train operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since August 2015.
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Design
The train is formed of two modified former KiHa 47 diesel cars, renumbered KiRoShi 47 9176 (car 1) and KiRoShi 47 3505 (car 2), and is intended to replicate the design and ambiance of the luxury Brill coaches purchased by the Kyushu Railway in 1908, just before the company was nationalized. The rebuilding project was overseen by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka, and was based on scale models of the original coaches built by the railway modeller Nobutaro Hara.
Operations
The train runs between Ōita and Hita, and is also intended revive tourism and the local economy.
Car 1 (KiRoShi 47 9176)
This car was formerly numbered KiHa 47 176, and was previously operated by JR Shikoku until it was withdrawn from service on 30 April 2011. Rebuilding work was carried out at JR Kyushu's Kokura General Rolling Stock Centre, and included removal of the original toilet.
Car 2 (KiRoShi 47 3505)
This car was formerly numbered KiHa 47 1505, and was previously operated by JR Shikoku until it was withdrawn from service on 30 April 2011. Rebuilding work was carried out at JR Kyushu's Kokura General Rolling Stock Centre, and included addition of a new toilet.
History
Details of the planned excursion train, provisionally called the "Sweets Train", were first announced in January 2014. The train entered service on 8 August 2015.