Twilight Express


The Twilight Express was a limited express sleeping car train service operated by West [Japan Railway Company] in Japan from 1989 until March 2015. It ran between the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido and Osaka in south-western Honshu, a distance of approximately, with the journey taking between 22 and 23 hours. From May 2015 until March 2016, the train operated as a luxury cruise train between Osaka and Shimonoseki in western Japan.

Overview

Trains for Sapporo departed Osaka at 12:00, calling at,,,,,,,, and, with the final passenger pick-up made at in then at at 19:31. The first stop in Hokkaido was at at 07:18. The train then made four more stops before arriving at Sapporo at 09:02.
The same stops were made in the reverse, with the Twilight Express departing Sapporo at 14:05 and making its final pickup at Tōya at 16:33. The first stop at Niitsu was made at 04:33, with the train eventually making its way to Kyoto at 12:15 and finally arriving at Osaka at 12:52.
The Twilight Express consisted of type "A" and "B" accommodations, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee was charged for all berths, regardless of starting or ending location. The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, were based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare did not have to be paid, although the limited express fare and room fare had to be paid.
Trains departed several times per week, with more departures during holiday periods. The Nihonkai train made daily round-trip runs between Osaka and, with ongoing connections to Sapporo.
From 16 May 2015, the train became a luxury cruise train operating on a weekly basis between and in the west of Japan, taking approximately 29 hours for the 829 km journey. This service operated until March 2016.

Route

The Twilight Express ran on the following lines:
West Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
Hokkaido Railway Company
1Train reversal point
2Crew change location for conductors
The Tsugaru Kaikyō Line runs over the tracks of the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line, Esashi Line, and Hakodate Main Line.

Formations

July 1989 - December 1989

The original charter train formation operating from 21 July 1989 was as follows. The view from inside the "royal suite" in car 8 was obstructed by the adjacent generator van.
Car No.12345678
NumberingSuRoNeFu 25-502SuShi 24-2OHa 25-552OHaNeFu 25-501OHaNe 25-562OHaNe 25-561OHa 25-551SuRoNeFu 25-501KaNi 24-12
FacilitiesA-type suite and compartmentsDining carLounge car /ShowersB-type compartmentsB-type compartmentsB-type compartmentsLounge car /ShowersA-type suite and compartmentsGenerator van

December 1989 - July 1990

From 2 December 1989, trains were formed as follows.
Car No.12345678
NumberingSuRoNeFu 25-500SuShi 24OHa 25-550OHaNe 25-520OHaNe 25-520OHaNe 25-510OHaNe 25-560OHaNeFu 25-500KaNi 24
FacilitiesA-type suite and compartmentsDining carLounge car /ShowersB-type compartmentsB-type compartmentsB-type compartments + mini loungeB-type compartmentsB-type compartmentsGenerator van

July 1990 - March 2015

From 20 July 1990, trains were lengthened to nine cars, and formed as shown below.
Car No.123456789
NumberingSuRoNeFu 25-500SuRoNe 25-500SuShi 24OHa 25-550OHaNe 25-520OHaNe 25-520OHaNe 25-510OHaNe 25-560OHaNeFu 25-500KaNi 24
FacilitiesA-type suite and compartmentsA-type suite and compartmentsDining carLounge car /ShowersB-type compartmentsB-type compartmentsB-type compartments + mini loungeB-type couchettesB-type couchettesGenerator van

May 2015 - March 2016

From May 2015, the following formation was used for cruise train services. The "OHaNeFu 25" car was not used by passengers on these services.
Car No.1234567
NumberingSuRoNeFu 25-500SuRoNe 25-500SuRoNe 25-500SuRoNe 25-500OHa 25-550SuShi 24OHaNeFu 25-500KaNi 24
FacilitiesA-type suite and compartmentsA-type suite and compartmentsA-type suite and compartmentsA-type suite and compartmentsLounge car /ShowersDining carB-type couchettesGenerator van

Rolling stock

Locomotives

Three types of locomotives were used to haul the Twilight Express service:
, five specially-liveried Class EF81 locomotives were assigned for Twilight Express duties, numbers EF81 43, 44, 103, 113, and 114. Locomotive number EF81 104 was also formerly used on Twilight Express services, but was withdrawn in 2013.

Coaches

, three 9-car 24 series trainsets were used on Twilight Express services, formed as follows. The former coach numbers and conversion dates are shown below the current running numbers.
Car No.123456789
Set 1SuRoNeFu 25 501SuRoNe 25 501SuShi 24 1OHa 25 551OHaNe 25 523OHaNe 25 523OHaNe 25 511OHaNe 25 561OHaNeFu 25 501
Set 1
Set 2SuRoNeFu 25 502SuRoNe 25 502SuShi 24 2OHa 25 552OHaNe 25 524OHaNe 25 521OHaNe 25 512OHaNe 25 562OHaNeFu 25 502
Set 2
Set 3SuRoNeFu 25 503SuRoNe 25 503SuShi 24 3OHa 25 553OHaNe 25 525OHaNe 25 526OHaNe 25 513OHaNe 25 563OHaNeFu 25 503
Set 3

Four generator vans, numbered "KaNi 24 10, 12, 13, and 14", were used with the Twilight Express trainsets.

Timetable

The train timetable as of 2011 was as follows. For the Osaka departure to Sapporo, read down. For the Sapporo departure to Osaka, read up. Stations that were not used for passenger pick-up or drop-off are in italics.
DownStation nameUp

Dep 11:50
↓
Arr 12:52
↑

Arr 11:55
Dep 11:56
Dep 12:48
Arr 12:47

Arr 12:24
Dp 12:25
Dep 12:18
Ar 12:15

Arr 13:46
Dep 13:48
Dep 10:52
Arr 10:36

Arr 14:40
Dep 14:40
Dep 09:56
Arr 09:54

Arr 15:37
Dep 15:40
Dep 08:51
Arr 08:49

Arr 16:14
Dep 16:14
Dep 08:18
Arr 08:18

Arr 16:30
Dep 16:31
Dep 08:03
Arr 08:01

17:28		'
06:58

Arr 17:57
Dep 17:59
Dep 06:27
Arr 06:25

Arr 18:56
Dep 18:58
Dep 05:29
Arr 05:17

Arr 19:37
Dep 19:39
Dep 04:40
Arr 04:33

20:14		'↑

20:41		'
3:29

21:50		'↑

22:07		'
02:04

23:51		'
00:34

01:24		'
23:04

02:05		'
22:27
↓'
21:56
↓Aomori Signal
'
Train reversal point		↑

03:19		'
Crew change station for conductors
JR West <> JR Hokkaido
20:38
↓
Enter 03:41
Exit 04:20
↓		Seikan Tunnel↑
Exit 20:17
Enter 19:41
↑

05:05		'
Train reversal point
18:43
↓
17:05

Arr 07:18
Dep 07:18
Dep 16:33
Arr 16:23

Arr 07:52
Dep 07:54
Dep 15:50
Arr 15:48

Arr 08:11
Dep 08:12
Dep 15:34
Arr 15:33

Arr 08:50
Dep 08:50
Dep 15:00
Arr 14:59

Arr 09:10
Dep 09:11
Dep 14:39
Arr 14:39

↓
Arr 09:52

↑
Dep 14:05
DownStation nameUp

History

The Twilight Express first ran on 18 July 1989 from Osaka to Sapporo and back as a special preview run for invited passengers. From 21 July, it began operating as a charter service. A second rake of coaches was introduced from December 1989, allowing operation as a seasonal service. "A"-type sleeping cars were added to the formations between 1990 and 1991, and the formations were extended to 10 cars. In April 1991, a third rake of coaches was introduced, allowing daily operations during busy seasons. The coaches underwent a program of interior refurbishment between 2001 and 2002.

Withdrawal

Twilight Express services were discontinued from March 2015, with the final services departing from both Osaka and Sapporo on 12 March, arriving at their destinations the following day.

''Special Twilight Express'' cruise train

From 16 May 2015, the train became a luxury cruise train named the Special Twilight Express operating on a weekly basis between and in the west of Japan. This operated until March 2016, with the last service departing from Osaka on 19 March, returning on 22 March.

Future developments

In June 2017, JR West introduced a new luxury sleeping-car excursion train named Twilight Express Mizukaze, continuing the name and brand established by the Twilight Express train service.

Preservation

Former Twilight Express Class EF81 electric locomotive EF81 103 is exhibited at the Kyoto Railway Museum, which opened in April 2016, together with four former Twilight Express 24 series coaches, sleeping car SuRoNeFu 25-501, dining car SuShi 24-1, lounge car OHa 25-551, and generator van KaNi 24-12.

In popular culture

The Twilight Express formed the main backdrop for the TBS TV drama Terminus: Love on the Twilight Express, starring Kōichi Satō and Miho Nakayama, and broadcast on 20 March 2012.
The Twilight Express's dining car was featured in Chapters 41 an 42 of Ekiben Hitoritabi, a manga about ekiben.