With this years’ annual timetable changes announced for March seeing the end of the last real Blue Train “Hokutosei”, we take a look this month at some recent scenes which will soon be history.
DD51 diesel locomotives 1138 & 1148 lead the Ueno bound Hokutosei consist from the servicing facility at Inaho on 10/08/2014 into Sapporo Station preparing to take up service. Photo: John Cowburn
The Hokutosei seen again the following morning on 11/08/2014 with EF510-512 at the lead paused at Utsunomiya, a set-down only stop almost at journeys end. Photo: John Cowburn
After the March 2015 timetable changes, the only services on the Japanese Railways offering Dining Car service will be the Cassiopeia, and the cruise trains being commissioned by the various JR’s around the nation. This photo is of the Dining Car aboard the “Hokutosei” on the northbound service of 12/11/2014. Photo: Kiyoshi Jinno