Twilight Express Mizukaze

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 87 series Twilight Express Mizukaze train in July 2017
ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo
Entered service17 June 2017
Number built10 cars (1 set)
Formation10 cars per set
Capacity34
Operator(s)JR West
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Aluminium alloy, double-skin(KiSaINe 86-1, 101, 201, 301, 401)
Car length21,240 mm (69 ft 8 in) (end cars)
20,800 mm (68 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars)
Width2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Height4,070 mm (13 ft 4 in)
Floor height1,220 mm (4 ft 0 in)
Maximum speed110 km/h (70 mph)
Acceleration1.6 km/h/s
Deceleration3.9 km/h/s
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

The train was built jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kinki Sharyo.[3]

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.[4]

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).

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

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.[2]

Car No. 12345678910
Car type Observation carSleeping carSleeping carSleeping carLoungeDining carSleeping carSleeping carSleeping carObservation car
Designation MFC2TNF1TNF3TNF4MLMDTNWFTNF2TNFMFC1
Numbering KiITe 87-2KiSaINe 86-101KiSaINe 86-301KiSaINe 86-401KiRa 86-1KiShi 86-1KiSaINe 86-501KiSaINe 86-201KiSaINe 86-1KiITe 87-1
Weight (t) 55.243.840.341.658.358.148.740.543.855.3
Capacity 8666--4668
Facilities Observation deckTwin x 3Twin x 3Single x 2, Twin x 1Bar counterKitchenSuite x 1Twin x 3Twin x 3Observation 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

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.[5]

Tour routes
The 87 series Twilight Express Mizukaze train on test in April 2017

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
The 87 series Twilight Express Mizukaze train on a test run in early 2017, running as a 5-car formation with black protective vinyl wrapping

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]

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See also

References
  1. 「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.
  2. 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. p. 90–101.
  3. "Mizukase Project Story Vol 1" (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  4. 「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.
  5. JR西日本「TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風」トワイライトエクスプレスの伝統を継承 [JR West "Twilight Express Mizukaze" continues the tradition of the Twilight Express]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  6. TWILIGHT EXPRESS 瑞風 [Twilight Express Mizukaze]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57 no. 671. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 2017. p. 56–61.
  7. "Twilight Express Mizukaze Press Release" (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. JR西日本、新たな寝台列車を2017年春導入へ - ハイブリッド方式の10両編成 [JR West to introduce new sleeper train in spring 2017 - 10-car hybrid type]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  9. 「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.
  10. 「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.
  11. "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.
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