Twilight Express

Infobox j-rail service
name= "Twilight Express"


caption= Twilight Express hauled by an EF81 electric locomotive with headboard in the Osaka area
type= Limited express
operator= JR West, JR East, JR Hokkaido
lines=
startyear= 1989
endyear=
stock=

The nihongo|"Twilight Express"|トワイライトエクスプレス is the longest overnight train service operating in Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaidō), it runs between Osaka in Kansai and the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaidō. The journey takes between 22 and 23 hours.

Trains for Sapporo depart Osaka at 12:03, and call at Shin-Ōsaka, Kyoto, Tsuruga, Fukui, Kanazawa, Takaoka, Toyama, Naoetsu, and Nakaoka, with the final passenger pick-up made at Niitsu at 19:40. The first stop in Hokkaidō is at Toya at 07:17. The train then makes four more stops before arriving at Sapporo at 09:52.

The same stops are made in the reverse, with the Twilight Express departing Sapporo at 14:05 and making its final pickup at Toya at 16:19. The first stop at Niitsu is made at 04:23 with the train eventually making its way to Kyoto at 12:15 and finally arriving at Osaka at 12:52.

The Twilight Express consists of type "A" and "B" accommodations, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥9,000 for a "B" single twin room to about ¥17,000 for a "B" twin room or an "A" royal room, up to ¥51,000 for the suite room.

The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid.

Trains depart several times per week, with more departures during holiday periods. The Nihonkai train makes daily round-trip runs between Osaka and Aomori, with ongoing connections to Sapporo.

Route

The Twilight Express runs on the following rail lines:

JR West
* JR Kyoto Line (Tōkaidō Main Line), Osaka - Yamashina
* Kosei Line, Yamashina - Omi-Shiotsu
* Hokuriku Main Line, Omi-Shiotsu - Naoetsu

JR East
* Shinetsu Main Line, Naoetsu - Niitsu
* Uetsu Main Line, Niitsu - Akita
* Ou Main Line, Akita - Aomori^

JR Hokkaidō
* Tsugaru Kaikyō Line, Aomori - Goryokaku^
* Hakodate Main Line, Goryōkaku - Oshamambe
* Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
* Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
* Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo

^ train reversal point

The Tsugaru Kaikyō Line runs over the tracks of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line, Esashi Line and Hakodate Main Line.

Timetable (as of June 2008)

"(Note: For the Osaka departure, read down. For the Sapporo departure, read up.)"

External links

* [http://www.g-platform.jp/meta/tabijp_twilig_e_032504.asx Dream Rail Trip on Twilight Express] 2004 promotional video for the Twilight Express. "(Windows Media, in English)"
* [http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/twilightexpress/index.html Twilight Express Train Gallery] Twilight Express train route and composition information. "(In Japanese)"