Blue train

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Blue Trains (ブルートレイン, burū torein^?) in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed as such for the color of the train cars. They consist of 14- or 24-series sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.

Five Blue Train services were eliminated in 2008 and 2009. The Japan Railways Group (JR) is expected, according to the Asahi Shinbun, to begin phasing out most of the other sleeper services as well.

Contents 1 History 2 Services 2.1 Current services 2.2 Discontinued services (incomplete list) 3 References

History

The first Blue Train was known as the Asakaze. It ran between Hakata and Tokyo beginning in 1956; air-conditioned cars were added two years later. As was the case with sleeper train services in other parts of the world, the Blue Trains acquired a romantic aspect and, at the peak of their popularity in the late 1970s, appeared in many novels. They were often described as "hotels on the move."

More recently, however, as the Shinkansen (bullet train), buses, and airplanes have become faster, more popular, and sometimes cheaper, the Blue Trains have seen a severe decline in ridership and therefore revenues. The 2005 ridership on sleeper trains traveling west from Tokyo was calculated as one-fifth of that in 1987. For this and other reasons, such as aging equipment and a shortage of overnight staff, JR made plans to eliminate the majority of the overnight services.

The Asakaze service connecting Hakata and Tokyo was eliminated in 2005, its average occupancy below 30 percent. The most recently eliminated services were the Hayabusa and Fuji, in 2009.

Services

Current services

• Akebono - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Aomori
• Cassiopeia - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Sapporo; Uses deluxe cars.
• Hokuriku - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Kanazawa
• Hokutosei - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Sapporo; Service reduced from March 2008.
• Nihonkai - connects Osaka and Aomori; Service reduced to once daily from March 2008.
• Twilight Express - connects Osaka and Sapporo; Uses deluxe cars.

Discontinued services (incomplete list)

• Akatsuki - connected Kyoto and Nagasaki; Discontinued in March 2008.
• Asakaze - connected Tokyo and Shimonoseki; Discontinued in 2005.
• Chōkai - connected Ueno and Aomori
• Elm
• Fuji - connected Tokyo and Ōita; Discontinued in March 2009.
• Ginga - connected Tokyo and Osaka; Discontinued in March 2008.
• Hakutsuru - connected Ueno and Aomori
• Hayabusa - connected Tokyo and Kumamoto; Discontinued in March 2009.
• Naha - connected Kyoto and Kumamoto; Discontinued in March 2008.
• Sakura - connected Tokyo and Nagasaki/Sasebo; Discontinued in 2005.

References

• Furuya, Masanobu. JR putting Blue Trains to bed as passengers find faster ways to travel. (Out of Date ... Link to Japanese Language) Asahi Shinbun. 11 December 2007. Accessed 12 December 2007. (English)