Blue Train (Japan)

Blue Trains in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed as such for the color of the train cars. They consist of 14- or 24-series sleeper cars, and currently run on nine routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer limited-express sleeper trains which are not blue.

The Blue Trains are scheduled to be phased out beginning in 2008. Three Blue Train services will be eliminated in March 2008, two more being eliminated the following year. The Japan Railways Group (JR) is expected, according to the Asahi Shinbun, to begin phasing out most of the other sleeper services as well.

History

The first Blue Train was known as the Asakaze. It ran between Hakata and Tokyo beginning in 1956; air-conditioned cars were added two years later. As was the case with sleeper train services in other parts of the world, the Blue Trains acquired a romantic aspect and, at the peak of their popularity in the late 1970s, appeared in many novels. They were often described as "hotels on the move."

More recently, however, as the Shinkansen (bullet train), buses, and airplanes have become faster, more popular, and sometimes cheaper, the Blue Trains have seen a severe decline in ridership and therefore revenues. The 2005 ridership on sleeper trains traveling west from Tokyo was calculated as one-fifth of that in 1987. For this and other reasons, such as aging equipment and a shortage of overnight staff, JR is planning to eliminate the majority of the overnight services by spring 2009.

The Asakaze line connecting Hakata and Tokyo was eliminated in 2005, its average occupancy below 30 percent. Other lines are planned to be phased out in 2008-2009.

ervices

*Akatsuki - connects Kyoto and Nagasaki; Retired: March 15, 2008
*Akebono - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Aomori; not currently planned to be phased out
*Asakaze - connected Tokyo and Hakata; retired in 2005.
*Cassiopeia - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Sapporo; uses deluxe cars
*Fuji - connects Tokyo and Ōita; due to be retired in spring 2009
*Ginga - connects Tokyo and Osaka; Retired: March 15, 2008
*Hayabusa - connects Tokyo and Kumamoto; due to be retired in spring 2009.
*Hokuriku - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Kanazawa; not currently planned to be phased out
*Hokutosei - connects Ueno (Tokyo) and Sapporo; service will be halved to once daily after March 2008
*Naha - connects Kyoto and Kumamoto; Retired: March 15, 2008
*Nihonkai - connects Osaka and Aomori; service will be halved to once daily after March 2008

References

*Furuya, Masanobu. [http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200712110111.html JR putting Blue Trains to bed as passengers find faster ways to travel] . "Asahi Shinbun". 11 December 2007. Accessed 12 December 2007. (English)