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Seven Stars in Kyushu

The Seven Stars in Kyushu (ななつ星ｉｎ九州, Nanatsuboshi in Kyūshū) is a deluxe sleeping car excursion train operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since October 2013.[1][2]

Seven Stars in Kyushu
The Seven Stars in Kyushu in November 2013, hauled by a JR Kyushu Class DF200 diesel-electric locomotive
Overview
Service typeExcursion train
StatusOperational
LocaleKyushu
First service15 October 2013
Current operator(s)JR Kyushu
Route
TerminiHakata
Hakata (loop)
On-board services
Seating arrangementsLounge car
Sleeping arrangements2-person suites
Catering facilitiesDining car
Observation facilitiesObservation car at end of train
Technical
Rolling stock77 series coaches
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationDiesel-hauled
Operating speed100 km/h (60 mph)
Dining space in MaShiFu 77-7002 (car 2)

Design

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The overall design concept of the train was overseen by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.[2] The name of the train is derived from the seven prefectures of Kyushu and the fact that the train is made up of seven coaches.[3]

The dedicated diesel locomotive, DF200-7000, for the train was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, based on the JR Freight Class DF200 locomotive, modified for use in Kyushu and finished in a livery of deep maroon.[4] It was completed in July 2013.[5] The coaches are based on the 817 series EMU body design and are mounted on 787 series EMU bogies.[4] Manufacture of the passenger coaches was split between Hitachi in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi, and JR Kyushu's Kokura Works in Kitakyushu.[4]

Train formation

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The train consists of the DF200-7000 locomotive and seven coaches: five sleeping cars, a lounge car, and a dining car,[1] with a total capacity of 28 passengers.[6] The rear car of the train features two deluxe suites with observation windows at the end.[2] All suites have their own toilets and shower facilities, designed in porcelain by the late Sakaida Kakiemon XIV.[7][8] The total cost of building the train was approximately 3 billion yen.[6]

The train is formed as follows.[9][10]

Car No. Running No. Type Manufacturer Weight (t) Facilities
1 MaI 77-7001 Lounge car JR Kyushu 45.3 with piano, bar counter and observation area
2 MaShiFu 77-7002 Dining car JR Kyushu 45.2 with toilets
3 MaINe 77-7003 Sleeping car JR Kyushu 45.4 3 suites, shower room
4 MaINe 77-7004 Sleeping car Hitachi 44.3 3 suites, toilets
5 MaINe 77-7005 Sleeping car Hitachi 44.3 3 suites
6 MaINe 77-7006 Sleeping car Hitachi 44.2 3 suites, toilets
7 MaINeFu 77-7007 Sleeping car Hitachi 45.1 2 deluxe suites, mini kitchen, crew room
  •  
    MaI 77-7001 (car 1)
  •  
    MaShiFu 77-7002 (car 2)
  •  
    MaINe 77-7003 (car 3)
  •  
    MaINe 77-7004 (car 4)
  •  
    MaINe 77-7005 (car 5)
  •  
    MaINe 77-7006 (car 6)
  •  
    MaINeFu 77-7007 (car 7)

Route

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A dedicated tour coach for use by Seven Stars in Kyushu passengers

The train operates on two-day and four-day circular tours of Kyushu, starting and finishing at Hakata Station.[10] Coach tours are provided from various stations along the route.[10]

2-day itinerary

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Day 1
Hakata → Nagasaki
Day 2
Aso → Yufuin → Hakata

4-day itinerary

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Day 1
Hakata → Yufuin
Day 2
Miyazaki → Miyakonojō → Hayato
Day 3
Hayato → Kagoshima-Chuo → Kagoshima
Day 4
Aso → Bungo-Mori → Hakata

History

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DF200-7000 on delivery covered in protective black film to protect the livery underneath, July 2013

The dedicated Class DF200-7000 diesel locomotive for this train was delivered to JR Kyushu's Oita Depot from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company in Kobe on 2 July 2013.[11] Four coaches were delivered from Hitachi's Kudamatsu factory on 18 July 2013.[12] The train entered revenue service on 15 October 2013.[13] Introducing Kyushu to the world is a part of the train's purpose.[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b 九州の旅、列車で優雅に 「七つ星」１３年秋発車 [Seven Stars for elegant tours of Kyushu from autumn 2013] (in Japanese). Japan: The Nishinippon Shimbun. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c ＪＲ九州:豪華列車「ななつ星」 来年１０月から運行 [JR Kyushu deluxe train Seven Stars in service from October 2013]. Mainichi jp (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Concept". Seven Stars in Kyushu. Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. 2012. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "JR九州「ななつ星in九州」の概要を発表" [JR Kyushu announces details of "Seven Stars in Kyushu"]. Railway Journal (550). Japan: Tetsudō Journal: 146. August 2012.
  5. ^ ななつ星の機関車完成、いざ九州へ [Seven Stars locomotive completed and delivered to Kyushu]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). Japan: The Yomiuri Shimbun. 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  6. ^ a b 九州の豪華寝台列車「ななつ星」来秋デビュー [JR Kyushu deluxe sleeping car train Seven Stars to debut autumn 2013]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). Japan: Asahi Interactive. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  7. ^ "総工費３０億 これがこだわりの豪華車両だ！ＪＲ九州「ななつ星」 ― スポニチ Sponichi Annex 社会". Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  8. ^ "車両編成" [Train formation] (PDF). News Release. Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. 28 May 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.[dead link]
  9. ^ ""ななつ星in九州"用編成" ["Seven Stars in Kyushu" trainset]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 53, no. 631. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. November 2013. pp. 44–45.
  10. ^ a b c "クルーズトレイン"ななつ星in九州"いよいよデビュー" ["Seven Stars in Kyushu" cruise train to debut shortly]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 42, no. 355. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. November 2013. pp. 10–13.
  11. ^ 「ななつ星」専用機関車、大分到着 漆の外観はまだ内緒 ["Seven Stars" locomotive arrives in Oita, livery is kept secret]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  12. ^ ""ななつ星 in 九州"の客車が甲種輸送される" ["Seven Stars in Kyushu" coaches delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  13. ^ Kurubori, Reina (16 October 2013). "Seven Stars sleeper promises railway luxury". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Limited. p. 8. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  14. ^ Eames, Andrew (8 December 2014). "Japan's answer to the Orient Express". CNN.

Further reading

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