The , branded , is a luxury hybrid

diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DMU) sleeping-car

excursion train An excursion train is a chartered train run for a special event or purpose. Examples are trains to major sporting event, trains run for railfans or tourists, and special trains operated by the railway company for employees and prominent customer ...

operated by

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and ...

(JR West) in Japan since 17 June 2017. With a capacity of 34 passengers, the train is used on excursions in the

Keihanshin is a metropolitan region in the Kansai region of Japan encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka in Osaka Prefecture and Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture. The entire region has a population () of 19,302,746 ...

, Sanin, and

Sanyo , stylized as SANYO, is a Japanese electronics company and formerly a member of the ''Fortune'' Global 500 whose headquarters was located in Moriguchi, Osaka prefecture, Japan. Sanyo had over 230 subsidiaries and affiliates, and was founded by ...

regions of western Japan.

Design

The train was built jointly by

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headq ...

and

Kinki Sharyo is a Japanese manufacturer of railroad vehicles based in Osaka. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation. In business since 1920 (as Tanaka Rolling Stock Works) and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945. They have produced light r ...

Propulsion

The train is a ten-car self-propelled hybrid

(DMU) train combining a diesel generator and battery storage power, allowing it to operate on the non-electrified

Sanin Main Line The is a railway line in western Japan, which connects Kyoto and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is the major railway line of the San'in region, approximately paralleling the Japan Sea, crossing Ky ...

Styling

The train styling was overseen by industrial designer and architect and interior designer .

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 consists of six

sleeping car The sleeping car or sleeper (often ) is a railway passenger car that can accommodate all passengers in beds of one kind or another, for the purpose of sleeping. George Pullman was the American innovator of the sleeper car. The first such cars ...

s, a

lounge car A lounge car (sometimes referred to as a buffet lounge, buffet car, club car or grill car) is a type of passenger car on a train, in which riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a re ...

, a

dining car A dining car (American English) or a restaurant car (British English), also a diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant. It is distinct from other railroad food service cars that do ...

, 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 Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of age, disability or other factors. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the ma ...

"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 , with some of the menus designed by chef , owner of the Kikuoi restaurant in Kyoto, and , owner of the Hajime restaurant.

Tour routes

Twilight Express Mizukaze test run 20170424

The train will initially be used on excursions in the

, Sanin, and

regions of western Japan. The following five tour routes will be offered: ; Sanyo Course (Outbound) :Two-day tour from and to via the Sanyo Main Line, stopping off at and en route. ; Sanyo Course (Inbound) :Two-day tour from Shimonoseki to Kyoto and Osaka via the Sanyo Main Line, stopping off at and en route. ; Sanin Course (Outbound) :Two-day tour from and to via the

, stopping off at and en route. ; Sanin Course (Inbound) :Two-day tour from Shimonoseki to Kyoto and Osaka via the Sanin Main Line, stopping off at and 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 , /, and en route.

History

Twilight Express Mizukaze test run at Saijo Station 2017-02-01

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

factory in Kobe in March 2016. The two end cars, KiITe 87-1 and KiITe 87-2, were delivered from the

factory in Osaka in August 2016. Mainline test running commenced in late September, initially with the train formed as four cars.

References

External links

* {{JR West trains Named passenger trains of Japan Hybrid multiple units of Japan West Japan Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2017 Kawasaki multiple units Kinki Sharyo multiple units