The 87 series (87系), branded Twilight Express Mizukaze (TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風), is a luxury hybrid diesel multiple unit (DMU) sleeping-car excursion train operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan since 17 June 2017.[1] With a capacity of 34 passengers, the train is used on excursions in the Keihanshin, Sanin, and Sanyo regions of western Japan.[2]
| 87 series Twilight Express Mizukaze | |
|---|---|
 The JR West KiHa 87 series Twilight Express Mizukaze hybrid DMU cruise train in October 2022 | |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo |
| Entered service | 17 June 2017 |
| Number built | 10 cars (1 set) |
| Formation | 10 cars per set |
| Capacity | 34 |
| Operators | JR West |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel Aluminium alloy, double-skin(KiSaINe 86-1, 101, 201, 301, 401) |
| Car length | 21.24 m (69 ft 8 in) (end cars) 20.8 m (68 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars) |
| Width | 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 4,070 mm (13 ft 4 in) |
| Floor height | 1,220 mm (4 ft 0 in) |
| Maximum speed | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
| Acceleration | 1.6 km/(h⋅s) (0.99 mph/s) |
| Deceleration | 3.9 km/(h⋅s) (2.4 mph/s) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Design edit
The train was built jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kinki Sharyo.[3]
Propulsion edit
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.[4]
Styling edit
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 edit
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.[5]
Train formation edit
The ten-coach train consists 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:[2]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car type | Observation car | Sleeping car | Lounge | Dining car | Sleeping car | Observation car | ||||
| Designation | MFC2 | TNF1 | TNF3 | TNF4 | ML | MD | TNWF | TNF2 | TNF | MFC1 |
| Numbering | KiITe 87-2 | KiSaINe 86-101 | KiSaINe 86-301 | KiSaINe 86-401 | KiRa 86-1 | KiShi 86-1 | KiSaINe 86-501 | KiSaINe 86-201 | KiSaINe 86-1 | KiITe 87-1 |
| Weight (t) | 55.2 | 43.8 | 40.3 | 41.6 | 58.3 | 58.1 | 48.7 | 40.5 | 43.8 | 55.3 |
| Capacity | 8 | 6 | - | - | 4 | 6 | 8 | |||
| Facilities | Observation deck | Twin x 3 | Single x 2, Twin x 1 | Bar counter | Kitchen | Suite x 1 | Twin x 3 | Observation deck | ||
Cars 1, 5, 6, and 10 are powered.[6] 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.[2] 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.[6]
Catering edit
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 Kikunoi restaurant in Kyoto, and Hajime Yoneda (米田 肇), owner of the Hajime restaurant.[5]
Tour routes edit
The train will initially be used on excursions in the Keihanshin, Sanin, and Sanyo regions of western Japan.[5] The following five tour routes will be offered:[7]
- Sanyo Course (Outbound)
- Two-day tour from Kyoto and Osaka to Shimonoseki via the Sanyo Main Line, stopping off at Miyajimaguchi and Onomichi en route.
- Sanyo Course (Inbound)
- Two-day tour from Shimonoseki to Kyoto and Osaka via the Sanyo Main Line, stopping off at Kurashiki and Iwakuni en route.
- Sanin Course (Outbound)
- Two-day tour from Osaka and Kyoto to Shimonoseki via the Sanin Main Line, stopping off at Kinosaki Onsen and Higashi-Hagi en route.
- Sanin Course (Inbound)
- Two-day tour from Shimonoseki to Kyoto and Osaka via the Sanin Main Line, stopping off at Izumoshi and Tottori en route.
- Sanin & Sanyo Course
- Three-day circular tour from Kyoto and Osaka back to Kyoto via the Sanyo Main Line and Sanin Main Line, stopping off at Okayama, Shinji/Matsue, and Higashihama en route.
History edit
JR West first announced its plans to build a new luxury cruising train in May 2014.[8] The name of the train, Twilight Express Mizukaze, and train logo were officially unveiled on 19 February 2015.[5]
The first five intermediate cars of the ten-car trainset were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in March 2016.[9] The two end cars, KiITe 87-1 and KiITe 87-2, were delivered from the Kinki Sharyo factory in Osaka in August 2016.[10] Mainline test running commenced in late September, initially with the train formed as four cars.[11]
See also edit
- List of named passenger trains of Japan
- Joyful Train, the generic name for excursion and charter trains in Japan
- Seven Stars in Kyushu, a luxury cruising train operated by JR Kyushu in Japan
- Train Suite Shiki-shima, a luxury sleeping car excursion train operated by JR East in Japan
References edit
- ^ 「トワイライトエクスプレス瑞風」2017年6月17日デビューへ 料金も発表 ["Twilight Express Mizukaze" to debut on 16 June 2017]. tetsudo-shimbun.com (in Japanese). Japan: Tetsudo Shimbun. 29 November 2016. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Nabeya, Takeshi (July 2017). 「TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風」 87系寝台気動車 ["Twilight Express Mizukaze" 87 series sleeping car DMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 675. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 90–101.
- ^ "Mizukase Project Story Vol 1" (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
- ^ 「トワイライト」消えず JR西の豪華寝台列車は「TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風」に [JR West's luxury sleeper train to be "Twilight Express Mizukaze"]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Japan: Mediavague Co., Ltd. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ a b TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風 [Twilight Express Mizukaze]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 671. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 2017. pp. 56–61.
- ^ "Twilight Express Mizukaze Press Release" (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
- ^ 「トワイライトエクスプレス瑞風」の中間車が川崎重工から出場 [Twilight Express Mizukaze intermediate cars delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ 「トワイライトエクスプレス瑞風」の先頭車両が甲種輸送される [Twilight Express Mizukaze end cars delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 August 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
- ^ "瑞風"公式試運転開始 [Mizukaze test running starts]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 30 September 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
External links edit
