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Night trains were commonplace on JR lines but they gradually disappeared as times changed.
As the Reiwa era enters its seventh year in 2025, has announced the introduction of a new overnight train In this article, I'll provide an overview of the new overnight express train and what I hope for.
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,
Introducing a new overnight express train ~ Creating new tourism demand with local residents through operation ~
According to the announcement, one of the E657 series trains will be modified to be capable of operating as a night train. The E657 series is a 10-car train used on Hitachi and Tokiwa
Image of the new overnight express train : JR East
The remodeling will convert all seats into Green Car private rooms, with private rooms available for 1, 2, and 4 people, likely to meet the needs of a variety of passengers.
The seats can be fully flattened (the four-person private rooms are always fully flat) so you can lie down and sleep, but they are still considered fully flat seats This is probably why JR East uses the term "night express" instead of "sleeper express." There will also be no shower rooms or bathrooms, as are available on currently operating sleeping car trains.
The first two cars, cars 1 and 10, are equipped with premium green private rooms higher rank and can accommodate one or two people.
The total capacity of the entire train is expected to be around 120 people.
Car No. 5 will have a lounge and sales space which will surely help to make your journey even more enjoyable.
The new overnight express train is scheduled to begin operation in spring 2027. information released about the service area is that it will be " planned to operate in the Tokyo metropolitan area to the northern Tohoku region, etc. *The service area may change depending on the period."
Please note that only one train set has been announced for conversion to an overnight express train, so daily operation will not be possible. It will likely operate occasionally as a tour train or special group train. I think the frequency and format of operation will be similar to that Cassiopea Journey which ceased operation in June 2025
The Cassiopeia Journey has ceased operation
If we think about it simply, the "Northern Tohoku area" probably refers to Aomori, Akita, and Morioka. According to reports, the planned operation is to depart from stations in Tokyo at 9 pm and return to Aomori Station at 9 am the next morning The price will be " the same as the fare for a green car on the Shinkansen "
If you want to connect a station in Tokyo with Akita Station, you will likely need to go via the Takasaki Line, Joetsu Line, and Uetsu Main Line There are other reasonable routes to travel to Akita Station by train, but the only reasonable route that the E657 series can operate on is via the Uetsu Main Line.
Possible routes to Morioka Station are via the Tohoku Main Line (via Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture and Nakadori in Fukushima Prefecture) or the Joban Line (via Mito in Ibaraki Prefecture and Hamadori in Fukushima Prefecture). Logically, it would be via the Tohoku Main Line, known as the northern artery, but prefer it to run via the Joban Line, where the E657 series was originally deployed . Also, since the new overnight express train is intended to promote tourism in the region, I think which line it will run on will be of some interest to local governments along the line. It has been officially announced that there will be changes to the operating area, so I hope it will run on both routes.
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, you will be traveling on non-JR lines (the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line and the Aoimori Railway Line) from Morioka Station to Aomori Station. I don't think it's absolutely impossible to connect to non-JR lines, and in fact the "Cassiopea Journey" did, but it's best not to get your hopes up too much. I think the most reasonable route would be via the Uetsu Main Line, that is, via Sakata Station or Akita Station, and then from Akita Station via the Ou Main Line to Aomori Station .
Again, it has been announced that "the operating area will change," so it is entirely possible that the train will operate outside of the three northern Tohoku prefectures. Also, since it is not a sleeper train, but rather a "train with fully flat seats," it may be possible for it to operate 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 cannot operate on non-electrified lines or on 60Hz AC electrified lines in the Hokuriku and Kyushu regions. However, even on such lines, it seems possible to operate the E657 series by arranging for a locomotive to pull the train and a power car to run the onboard equipment, and having a local JR or JR Freight train crew operate the locomotive.
Is there a possibility that additional overnight express trains will be introduced in the future?
The E657 series is a relatively new train that began commercial operation in 2012. If the new overnight express trains are financially successful, they are expected to be in service for 10 to 20 years even after the conversion .
Furthermore, Joban Line express trains have been replaced with new rolling stock every 20 years or so, so it is expected that the successor to the E657 series will be introduced to Joban Line express trains around 2030. Some of the E657 series may then be converted to the Uetsu Main Line's Inaho limited express and the Shinetsu Main Line's Shirayuki limited express, but it is unlikely that all of them will be converted, resulting in surplus rolling stock. I hope that these surplus rolling stock will be converted into additional overnight express trains
Reference: Limited Express "Inaho" operated by E653 series train
Reference: Limited Express "Shirayuki" operated by E653 series train
If the number of E657 series overnight express trains were increased, it would be possible to increase the number of days on which they operate, or operate both outbound and inbound trains (allowing them to operate as special trains every day during rush hours for people returning home), and with a total of three or four trains, it would be possible to operate them every day I can only imagine whether JR East is looking ahead to the above developments, but I find hope in the fact that at least "if they want to do it, it can be done."
In recent years, with the rise in accommodation costs and other factors, overnight buses have become a popular option, allowing passengers to travel while they sleep and save on accommodation costs JR East's decision to debut a new overnight express train is likely due to a desire to see if the same tailwind that is blowing through the overnight bus industry can also be applied to trains.
If the overnight express trains converted from the E657 series prove successful, new overnight train cars may be built in the future, and new overnight express trains (or revivals of old overnight trains) may appear in areas other than northern Tohoku. There is also a possibility that this may spread to railway companies other than JR East.
Nowadays, there are comfortable night buses available, but the spaciousness of the interior is something that can only be achieved on a train. I would like to end this article by hoping that the arrival of the new night express train will be the catalyst for the revival of night trains, and that we will see a world in which night train travel becomes commonplace again.
![00001963-6](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/00001963-6-150x150.jpg.webp "The Yamada Line's path was asked, "Are you planning to ride a monkey?" [Iwate Prefecture]")
