The Last Blue Train "Hokutosei" Quits
In pre-war Japan we had super-expresses like "Tubame (Swallow)" and "Sakura (Cherry-blossoms)" serving down south along the Tokaido Line but none up north. In the 1960's through 70's Tokyo and major cities were linked throughout the country with regular daytime trains and sleepers serving at night. The sleepers were called "blue-trains" as the coaches were painted in comforting blue.
Half a century ago Japan launched a fantastic series of bullet trains, Shinkansen, mainly serving Southern Japan but, again, not yet up north. It was as late as in December, 2011 when the northbound routes were fully opened between Tokyo and Aomori.
Then in 1988, a huge undersea tunnel, Seikan Tunnel, was dug open linking Hokkaido and the main island of Japan. That was the dawn of Japan's railroad services north of Tokyo. The tunnel signaled the start of a new sleeper express named "Hokutosei"in English "The Big Dipper" linking Ueno in Tokyo and Hakodate without transfer.
The legendary sleeper closes its 27-year career as the last Tokyo-bound train leaves Sapporo on August 22. Tourists will long remember the Hokutosei for good reasons. It was the first sleeper express mounting pubic phones; a fancy French restaurant "Grand Chariot" attracted many, etc. With the departure of the Hokutosei, The "Nanatsuboshi in Kyushu (Seven Stars in Kyushu)" is the only cruise-train left to sleep on traveling.
It's a pity really but what killed the Hokutosei? There are good many reasons why she has to go. First, there is this good old question of cost efficiency. A fully-seated Nanatsuboshi earns 6.63 million yen per trip in two days and one night. A fully-loaded Hokutosei makes 5.58 million. And yet, the Hokutosei carries 158 more passengers than the Nanatsuboshi.
Second, the Hokutosei has aged. Most of the coaches are over 35 years old, much too old for efficient service.
So, the Hokutosei has to go. But where to? Private sleeper coaches, buffet coaches, lobby-cars, and power-generating coaches were sold to Myanmar. Whether or not the Hokutosei is put to active service there is not yet certain.
