The was a seasonal
limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.
Japan
The term "limited express" is a common ...
sleeper train service operated by
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East), which ran from
Ueno Station
is a major railway station in Tokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park—which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo University of the Arts and other fam ...
in Tokyo to , via the
Joetsu Line,
Uetsu Main Line
The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient ...
and
Ou Main Line
OU or Ou or ou may stand for:
Universities United States
* Oakland University in Oakland County, Michigan
* Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama
* Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia
* Ohio University in Athens, Ohio
* Olivet Univers ...
. The journey took approximately 12 hours.
["JR Timetable" December 2008 issue]
Service outline
During busy holiday seasons, one ''Akebono'' service operates in each direction daily between Ueno in Tokyo and Aomori, stopping at the following main stations. Prior to 15 March 2014, the train ran daily all year round. While JR East has not formally announced its discontinuation, no services have operated since January 2015.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Rolling stock
The train is formed of 24 series sleeping cars based at JR East's Aomori Depot, typically consisting of 13 cars including a KaNi24 generator car at the Aomori end.
The train is hauled by a JR East Nagaoka-based
EF64-1000 DC electric locomotive between Ueno and , and by an EF81 between Nagaoka and Aomori.
File:AKEBONO EF64-1031 20130303.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class EF64-1000 locomotive in March 2013
File:EF81 138 Akebono Aomori 20110611.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class EF81 locomotive in June 2011
File:Akebono 20100313.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service heading toward Ueno in March 2010
Formation
Since the 15 March 2008 timetable revision, ''Akebono'' services are normally formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno (Tokyo) end.
* Car 1 includes women-only couchettes and ''Goronto Seat'' couchettes without bedding.
* The KaNi 24 is a generator car.
Rolling stock timeline
The changes in rolling stock and locomotive haulage over the years are as shown below.
Coaches
Locomotive haulage
File:JNR ef71 6 akebono.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by Class EF71 and ED78 AC electric locomotives around 1987
File:EF651018_Akebono_Kawaguchi_19910816.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class EF65-1000 DC electric locomotive in 1991
File:DE10 1649 Akebono Shinjo 19920816.jpg, A pair of Class DE10 diesel locomotives on an ''Akebono'' service in August 1992
File:ED75 750 Akebono Aomori 20100327.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class ED75-700 AC electric locomotive in March 2010
File:EF64 38 Akebono.jpg, An ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class EF64-0 DC electric locomotive in 2009
File:EF81 136-akebono.jpg, ''Akebono'' service hauled by a Class EF81 locomotive in June 2007
Interior
File:Akebono lower bunk.jpg, 4-person couchette (lower berth)
File:Akebono upper bunk.jpg, 4-person couchette (upper berth)
File:Akebono night train aisle.jpg, Corridor
File:Solo24.JPG, A "Solo" single-berth compartment
History
Sendai - Aomori express (1962 - 1968)
The ''Akebono'' was introduced on 15 July 1962, as an express service running between and via .
The train operated using a three-car
KiHa 58 series DMU formation, consisting of KiHa 58 + KiRo 28 + KiHa 58.
The down service departed from Sendai Station at 13:50, arriving at Akita at 18:35, and reaching Aomori at 21:56. The up working departed from Aomori at 06:25, departing from Akita at 09:50, arriving at Sendai at 14:30.
From April 1963, between Akita and Aomori, the train ran coupled with the two-car express service, which ran between Kanazawa and Aomori along the Sea of Japan coast.
From the start of the 1 October 1968 timetable revision, the train was renamed .
Ueno - Aomori limited express (1970 - )
The name ''Akebono'' was revived from 1 July 1970 for a new overnight sleeping car service initially operating as a seasonal service between in Tokyo and via and the
Uetsu Main Line
The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient ...
using newly delivered 20 series sleeping cars.
From 1 October 1970, the train became a daily scheduled train, and was extended to run between Ueno and Aomori.
The down service departed from Ueno Station at 22:05, arriving at Akita at 07:20 the following morning, and reaching Aomori at 10:39. The up working departed from Aomori at 18:05, departing from Akita at 21:25, arriving at Ueno at 06:50 the following morning.
From the start of the revised timetable in October 1973, a second daily return ''Akebono'' working was added, running between Ueno and Akita.
From 1 October 1980, the original 20 series sleeping cars were replaced by 24 series sleeping cars.
From the start of the revised timetable in November 1982, a third daily return ''Akebono'' working was added.
However, with increasing competition from daytime train services and air services, services were cut back to two return workings daily between Ueno and Aomori from March 1988.
From September 1990, with re-gauging work starting on the Ou Main Line between Fukushima and Shinjo in preparation for the new
Yamagata Shinkansen
The is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line.
The term Yamaga ...
, one return ''Akebono'' working was renamed and re-routed via the
Joetsu Line and
Uetsu Main Line
The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient ...
. The remaining ''Akebono'' working was re-routed to run via the
Rikuu East Line
The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Kogota Station in Misato, Miyagi Prefecture to Shinjō Station in Shinjō, Yamagata Prefecture, acting as a connector between the Tōhoku Main ...
between Fukushima and Shinjo, requiring haulage by pairs of
JNR Class DE10
The is a class of Japanese C-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotives. 708 locomotives were built between 1966 and 1978. , 138 locomotives remained in operation.
Variants
DE10-0 subclass
158 DE10-0 locomotives were built with steam h ...
diesel locomotives.
From 22 March 1997, the train was again re-routed, this time running via the
Joetsu Line from Ueno to , and then via the
Uetsu Main Line
The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient ...
to Akita and the
Ou Main Line
OU or Ou or ou may stand for:
Universities United States
* Oakland University in Oakland County, Michigan
* Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama
* Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia
* Ohio University in Athens, Ohio
* Olivet Univers ...
to Aomori.
From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, regular ''Akebono'' services were discontinued, but services still operate during busy seasons.
See also
*
Blue Train (Japan)
in Japan were long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed as such for the color of the train cars. They consisted of 20-, 14- or 24-series sleeper cars, and connected major destinations within Japan across long distances. For a time, other routes w ...
References
External links
JR East ''Akebono'' train information
{{Akita transit
East Japan Railway Company
Named passenger trains of Japan
Railway services introduced in 1970
Night trains of Japan
Railway services discontinued in 2015
2015 disestablishments in Japan