Looking forward to the new overnight express train connecting the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Tohoku region!

on JR linesOvernight trainswere commonplace
However, they gradually disappeared as times changed.

In 2025, the seventh year of the Reiwa era,the introduction of a new overnight trainannounced
This article will outline the new overnight express train and what I hope to see from it.

What is JR East's new overnight express train?

On June 10, 2025, JR East, which operates railway operations mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Tohoku and Koshinetsu regions,

We will be introducing a new overnight express train service
– aiming to create new tourism demand in the region through its operation.

He gave a presentation titled:

Reference:Introducing a new overnight express train – We aim to create new tourism demand in the region through its operation.

According to the announcement, one of the E657 series train sets will be modified to be capable of operating as a night train.
The E657 seriesHitachi" and "Tokiwais a 10-car train set used on

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

The trajectory of the Joban Line Limited Express "Hitachi," which has played a vital role in connecting the Pacific coast of Tohoku despite being tossed about by the times [Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/30690

The Hitachi Limited Express is a limited express train that runs between Shinagawa Station in Tokyo and either Iwaki Station in Fukushima Prefecture or Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture via JR East's Joban Line*. As of March 2024, it operates 15 round trips per day, making it the most frequent limited express train currently operating on conventional lines. This article explores the history of the Hitachi Limited Express from its inception to the present day. *Although the sections between Shinagawa Station and Nippori Station in Tokyo and between Iwanuma Station and Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture are not technically part of the Joban Line, for the sake of simplicity, this article will refer to the entire section on which the Hitachi operates as the Joban Line. Limited Express...

read more

The renovation will convert all seats into Green Car-style private compartments.
These compartments will be available for 1, 2, or 4 people, catering to a variety of passenger needs.

While the seats can be reclined to a fully flat position (the four-person compartments are always fully flat), allowing passengers to lie down and sleep, theyfully flat seatsare considered
This is likely why JR East uses the term "night express" rather than "sleeper express."
Unlike current sleeper trains, there are no shower rooms or bathrooms.

The lead cars, Car 1 and Car 10,premium green private compartmentswill feature
These premium green private compartments are available for one or two people.

The total capacity of the entire train is expected to be around 120 people

Car No. 5a lounge and a sales areawill feature
These will surely contribute to making your journey more enjoyable.

Where will the new overnight express train run?

The new overnight express trainbegin operation in the spring of 2027.is scheduled to
released so far is that the service areawill include the Tokyo metropolitan area and northern Tohoku region,　although this may change depending on the time of year.

It should be noted that only one train set has been announced for conversion into an overnight express train, so daily operation is not possible.
It will likely operate occasionally as a tour train or a special chartered train.
sleeper train, which ceased operations in June 2025Cassiopeia Kikoit will probably operate with a frequency and format similar to the

The "Northern Tohoku area" likely refers to the region encompassing Aomori, Akita, and Morioka. According
to reports,departing from a station in Tokyo at 9 PM and arriving at Aomori Station at 9 AM the following morningthe planned service involves
The fare is said to be "roughly the same as the Shinkansen Green Car fare plus a little extra."

If the route connects a station in Tokyo with Akita Station, itthe Takasaki Line, Joetsu Line, and Uetsu Main Linewould likely involve using
While other reasonable routes to Akita Station by train are conceivable, the only reasonable route that the E657 series can operate under its own power is via the Uetsu Main Line.

There are two possible routes to Morioka Station: via the Tohoku Main Line (through Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture and the Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture) and via the Joban Line (through Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture and the Hamadori region of Fukushima Prefecture).
Logically, the route via the Tohoku Main Line, known as the main artery of northern Japan,it will run via the Joban Line, which is the original area of ​​operation for the E657 serieschoice, but I also hope
Furthermore, since the new overnight express train is intended to promote regional tourism, the choice of route will likely be of considerable interest to the municipalities along the route.
As it has been officially announced that "the operating area may change," I hope it will run on either route.

Regarding the route to Aomori Station, the Uetsu Main Line, Tohoku Main Line, and Joban Line are all possible routes.
However, if you take the Tohoku Main Line or Joban Line, the section from Morioka Station to Aomori Station will be on non-JR lines (Iwate Galaxy Railway Line and Aoimori Railway Line).
I don't think it's absolutely impossible to use non-JR lines, and in fact the "Cassiopeia Kiko" did, but it's best not to have excessive expectations. I think the
most reasonable route is via the Uetsu Main Line, that is, via Sakata Station and Akita Station, and then from Akita Station via the Ou Main Line to Aomori Station.

To reiterate, since it has been announced that "the operating area may change," it is quite possible that the train will operate outside of the three prefectures of northern Tohoku.
Also, since it is not a sleeper train but rather a "train with seats that can be fully reclined," it should be possible to operate it as a daytime train.
Considering the above points, for example...

• Take the Tohoku Main Line or Joban Line to Sendai Station
• Take the Joetsu Line to Niigata Station
• Take the Tohoku Main Line and Ban'etsu West Line to Aizuwakamatsu Station in Fukushima Prefecture

I think that such an operation is possible

Cooperation from JR Central and JR West is a prerequisite, but I don't think it would be technically impossible to operate trains to Nagoya and Osaka

The E657 series should not be able to operate under its own power on non-electrified lines or on electrified lines using 60Hz AC power in the Hokuriku and Kyushu regions.
However, even on such lines, it is thought that operation would be possible if a locomotive to tow the E657 series and a power car to operate the onboard equipment were arranged, and the locomotive was operated by local JR or JR Freight crew members.

Is there a possibility that additional overnight express trains will be introduced in the future?

The E657 series is a relatively new train, having begun commercial operation in 2012.
If the new overnight express train proves financially successful,it is expected to remain in service for another 10 to 20 years even after modifications.

Furthermore, since the limited express trains on the Joban Line have been replaced with new rolling stock every 20 years or so, it is likely that a successor to the E657 series will be introduced to the Joban Line's limited express trains sometime after 2030.
In that case, some of the E657 series may be repurposed for the "Inaho" limited express on the Uetsu Main Line or the "Shirayuki" limited express on the Shin'etsu Main Line, but it is unlikely that all of them will be repurposed, resulting in a surplus of trains.
surplus trains will be converted into additional overnight limited express trainsI hope that these

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

The Inaho limited express train has been connecting the Sea of ​​Japan side of the Tohoku region with the Tokyo metropolitan area and Niigata Prefecture [Aomori Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/43260

JR East's limited express train, "Inaho," runs from Niigata Station in Niigata Prefecture to Sakata Station in Yamagata Prefecture or Akita Station in Akita Prefecture via the Hakushin Line and Uetsu Main Line along the Sea of ​​Japan coast. Only two round trips per day run between Niigata Station and Akita Station, while five round trips per day run between Niigata Station and Sakata Station. Currently, its main role is to connect the Kaetsu region of Niigata Prefecture with the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture. However, in the past, "Inaho" also ran as far south as Ueno Station in Tokyo and as far north as Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture. This time, let's trace the changes in the operating routes of the "Inaho" limited express. Limited express "Inaho"...

read more

If the number of E657 series overnight express trains were increased, it would be possible to increase the number of operating days, orto run both southbound and northbound trains(allowing for daily operation as extra trains during peak travel seasons like holiday rushes). With a total of three or four train sets,daily operationwould likely be possible.
While we can only speculate whether JR East is considering such a development, I find hope in the fact that "it's possible if they want to."

In recent years, with rising accommodation costs and other factors,which allow passengers to travel while sleeping and save on accommodation expenses,overnight buses,
I believe that JR East's decision to debut a new overnight express train is partly an attempt to see if the railway industry can also capitalize on the current boom in the overnight bus industry.

If the modified E657 series overnight express train proves successful, it's possible that new overnight trains will be built in the future, and new overnight express trains (or revivals of past overnight trains) may appear in areas other than northern Tohoku. There's also a
non-zero chance that this could spread to other railway companies besides JR East.

While comfortable vehicles are now available on overnight buses,the spaciousness of the interioris something that can only be achieved on trains.
I conclude this article hoping that the introduction of the new overnight express train will be the catalyst for the resurgence of overnight trains, and that a time will come when overnight train travel becomes commonplace once again.

Yuto Ono

A former railway engineer and current freelance writer who has loved trains since childhood, his dream is to make train travel his career