The was a
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 commo ...
train service operated in
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
, Japan by
Kyushu Railway Company
The , also referred to as , is one of the seven constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services within Kyushu, Japan and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima S ...
(JR Kyushu). It ran between in
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Fukuoka Prefecture has a population of 5,109,323 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,986 km2 (1,925 sq mi). Fukuoka Prefecture borders Saga Prefecture to the southwest, Kumamo ...
and in
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. Kumamoto Prefecture has a population of 1,748,134 () and has a geographic area of . Kumamoto Prefecture borders Fukuoka Prefecture to the north, Ōita Prefecture to the northeast, Miyaza ...
. It operated from 1 October 1950 to 12 March 2021.
History
The ''Ariake'' service commenced on 1 October 1950, originally as a "Semi express" service operating between and .
From 1 October 1965, the train was upgraded to become an "Express" service, and was extended to run between and Kumamoto.
From 1 October 1967, the train was upgraded to become a "
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 commo ...
" service, running between and Nishi-Kagoshima (now ).
With the opening of the
Kyushu Shinkansen
The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed railway network. It is an extension of the San'yō Shinkansen from Honshu connecting the city of Fukuoka ( Hakata Station) in the north of Japan's Kyushu Island to the city of Kagoshima ( Kagoshima-Chu ...
, the number of ''Ariake'' services gradually decreased.
On 12 February 2021, JR Kyushu announced the discontinuation of the ''Ariake.'' The last service operated on 12 March 2021.
References
External links
JR Kyushu ''Ariake'' train information
Named passenger trains of Japan
Kyushu Railway Company
Railway services introduced in 1950
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