Service type Excursion train Locale Japan Sleeping arrangements Private suites | Status Planned Current operator(s) JR-West | |
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First service 17 June 2017 (scheduled) | ||
The Twilight Express Mizukaze (TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風) is a deluxe sleeping-car excursion train on order by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in Japan for use on services from 17 June 2017. With a capacity of approximately 30 passengers, the train will be used on excursions in the Keihanshin, Sanin, and Sanyo regions of western Japan.
Contents
Design
The train was built jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kinki Sharyo.
Propulsion
The train is a ten-car self-propelled hybrid diesel multiple unit (DMU) train combining a diesel generator and battery storage power, allowing it to operate on the non-electrified Sanin Main Line.
Styling
The train styling was overseen by industrial designer Tetsuo Fukuda (福田 哲夫) and architect and interior designer Kazuya Ura (浦 一也).
Logo
The train's logo design combines a stylized "M" with the angels used in the logo of JR-West's Twilight Express sleeping car train, which operated from 1989 until March 2015.
Train formation
The ten-coach train consist of six sleeping cars, a lounge car, a dining car, and observation cars at either end of the train with open balconies. Five of the sleeping cars have three private suite rooms, while one car has a single luxury suite occupying the entire coach and featuring a bathtub and private balcony. The train formation is as shown below.
Cars 1, 5, 6, and 10 are powered. Cars 2, 3, 8, and 9, each have three double-occupancy "Twin" rooms, car 4 has two single-occupancy "Single" rooms and a universal design "Twin" room, and car 7 has one double-occupancy "Suite" room. In addition to the en-suite toilets provided in all rooms, cars 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 have toilets for use by all passengers.
Catering
On-board catering will be overseen by food columnist Takeshi Kadokami (門上 武司), with some of the menus designed by chef Yoshihiro Murata (村田 吉弘), owner of the Kikuoi restaurant in Kyoto, and Hajime Yoneda (米田 肇), owner of the Hajime restaurant.
Tour routes
The train will initially be used on excursions in the Keihanshin, Sanin, and Sanyo regions of western Japan. The following five tour routes will be offered:
History
JR-West first announced its plans to build a new luxury cruising train in May 2014. The name of the train, Twilight Express Mizukaze, and train logo were officially unveiled on 19 February 2015.
The first five intermediate cars of the ten-car trainset were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in March 2016. The two end cars, KiITe 87-1 and KiITe 87-2, were delivered from the Kinki Sharyo factory in Osaka in August 2016. Mainline test running commenced in late September, initially with the train formed as four cars.