Aru Ressha

The Aru Ressha trainset in October 2015

The Aru Ressha (或る列車) is a two-car deluxe excursion train operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since August 2015.

Design

The train is formed of two modified former KiHa 47 diesel cars, renumbered KiRoShi 47 9176 (car 1) and KiRoShi 47 3505 (car 2), and is intended to replicate the design and ambiance of the luxury Brill coaches purchased by the Kyushu Railway in 1908, just before the company was nationalized.[1][2] The rebuilding project was overseen by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka, and was based on scale models of the original coaches built by the railway modeller Nobutaro Hara.[2]

Operations

The train runs between Ōita and Hita, and is also intended revive tourism and the local economy.[2]

Individual car details

Car 1 (KiRoShi 47 9176)

This car was formerly numbered KiHa 47 176, and was previously operated by JR Shikoku until it was withdrawn from service on 30 April 2011.[1] Rebuilding work was carried out at JR Kyushu's Kokura General Rolling Stock Centre, and included removal of the original toilet.[1]

Car 2 (KiRoShi 47 3505)

This car was formerly numbered KiHa 47 1505, and was previously operated by JR Shikoku until it was withdrawn from service on 30 April 2011.[1] Rebuilding work was carried out at JR Kyushu's Kokura General Rolling Stock Centre, and included addition of a new toilet.[1]

History

Details of the planned excursion train, provisionally called the "Sweets Train", were first announced in January 2014.[3] The train entered service on 8 August 2015.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 「或る列車」としてデビュー！　キロシ47形 [KiRoShi 47 series debuts as "Aru Ressha"]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55 no. 654. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. October 2015. pp. 66–68.
  2. 1 2 3 "Luxury 'dream train' designed over 100 years ago goes into service in Kyushu". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Ltd. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  3. ↑ ＪＲ九州:「スイーツ列車」久大線と大村線に [JR Kyushu to run "Sweets Train" on Kyudai and Omura Lines]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 28 January 2014. Archived from the original on 28 January 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.

External links

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