is the name used 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. It formerly operated the Beetle (JR Kyushu), Beetle hydrofoil service across th ...

(JR Kyushu) for the

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

train service operating between

Hakata is a ward of the city of Fukuoka in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Many of Fukuoka Prefecture and Fukuoka City's principal government, commercial, retail and entertainment establishments are located in the district. Hakata-ku is also the location o ...

and Ōita via

Kokura is an ancient Jōkamachi, castle town and the center of modern Kitakyushu, Japan. Kokura is also the name of the Kokura Station, penultimate station on the southbound San'yō Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR West. Ferries connect Kokura ...

and

Beppu 270px, Beppu City Hall is a city in Ōita Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. As of November 30, 2023, the city had a population of 113,045 in 62,702 households, and a population density of 900 persons per km2. The total area of the ci ...

along the

Kagoshima Main Line The is a major railway line operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) between Mojiko Station, Mojikō in Kitakyushu, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Kagoshima City, at the southern end of Kyushu. Until March 13, 2004, it ...

and

Nippō Main Line The is a railway line in Kyushu, in southern Japan, operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). Also known as the Fukuhoku Nippo Line, The line connects Kokura Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima, Kagoshima, K ...

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's Japanese archipelago, four main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands (i.e. excluding Okinawa Island, Okinawa and the other Ryukyu Islands, Ryukyu (''Nansei'') Ryukyu Islands, Islands ...

, Japan. It runs every 30 minutes at a speed of - with a journey time of approximately 2 hours.

Rolling stock

Services are operated by a fleet of eight 7-car 883 series

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

(EMU) trains and eleven 6-car 885 series ''White Sonic'' EMUs. * 883 series EMUs (8 x 7-car) - Since 1997 * 885 series EMUs (11 x 6-car) - Since 2001 Most services are operated by renovated 883 series trains including a panoramic lounge area located in the Green Car (first class).

History

On 20 April 1995: New 883 series ''Sonic'' EMUs were introduced on ''Nichirin'' limited express services between Hakata and Ōita, and named ''Sonic Nichirin''. Two years later, on the twenty-second of March in 1997: ''Nichirin'' and ''Sonic Nichirin'' services were combined to become ''Sonic'' services operated entirely by 883 series EMUs. In 3 March 2001 new 5-car 885 series ''White Sonic'' were introduced on ''Sonic'' services. 885 series ''White Sonic'' sets lengthened from 5 to 6 cars, which allowed interchangeability with the 885 series ''White Kamome'' sets. In 18 March 2007, smoking was banned in all cars. On 19 July the next year the three 5-car 883 series sets got augmented to 7 cars."中間車両を6両新製し、特急「ソニック」の座席数を増やします", JR Kyushu press release, 24 June 2008, retrieved 26 June 2008

References

* "JR Timetable" March 2008 issue

External links

JR Kyushu website
{{JR Kyushu trains Kyushu Railway Company Named passenger trains of Japan Railway services introduced in 1997 1997 establishments in Japan

Rolling stock

History

See also

References

External links