The Hayato no Kaze (はやとの風,Hayato's Wind) was a limited express service in Japan which ran between Kagoshima-Chūō Station and Yoshimatsu Station via the Kagoshima Main Line, Nippō Main Line, and Hisatsu Line. It was operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu).[1] Its final run was on 21 March 2022.[2]

Hayato no Kaze
2-car Hayato no Kaze formation, January 2022
Overview
Service typeLimited express
LocaleKagoshima Main Line, Nippō Main Line, Hisatsu Line
First service13 March 2004
Last service21 March 2022 (18 years, 8 days)
Current operator(s)JR Kyushu
Route
TerminiKagoshima-Chūō
Yoshimatsu
Service frequency2 return trips daily
Technical
Rolling stockKiHa 47/147 DMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationDiesel
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph)

Schedule

edit

There were two return services per day. All trains stopped at both Osumi-Yokogawa and Kareigawa Stations for about 5 minutes. Some trains stopped at Ryugamizu Station for about 4 minutes for a view of Sakurajima. (Passengers could not alight Ryugamizu Station.)

Rolling stock

edit

The train was formed of two specially converted diesel multiple unit (DMU) cars, KiHa 147-1045 and KiHa 47-8092. Initially, the train consisted of KiHa 147-1045 as reserved seating car 1 and KiHa 140-2066 as non-reserved seating car 2. From January 2006, a third car, KiHa 47-8092, was converted for use as reserved seating car 1, with KiHa 147-1045 as non-reserved seating car 2. KiHa 140-2066 was used as a spare car to make 3-car formations at busy periods,[1] but was later rebuilt as a third car for use in the Ibusuki no Tamatebako DMU set, returning to service in March 2012.[3]

KiHa 147-1045 and KiHa 140-2066 were converted at JR Kyushu's Kokura Works. KiHa 47-8092 was converted at JR Kyushu's Kagoshima Depot. The set is based at Kagoshima Depot.[4]

Exterior

edit

The train was painted all-over black, with deep panorama side windows in the center of each car.

Interior

edit

The trains featured totally new interiors finished in fire-resistant wood with reclining seats and improved air conditioning.[4]

History

edit

The Hayato no Kaze service was introduced on 13 March 2004, coinciding with the opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen. The train made its final run on 21 March 2022, and thereafter the cars will be refurbished into a new limited express service, the Two Stars 4047.[2][5] The new Two Stars 4047 service is scheduled to begin in Fall 2022 and will run between Takeo Onsen and Nagasaki.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b JR新幹線&特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 108. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  2. ^ a b JR Kyushu. "たくさんのありがとう!!を特急「はやとの風」に" (PDF) (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 December 2021.
  3. ^ キハ140 2066が「指宿のたまて箱」仕様になって出場 [KiHa 140 2066 outshopped as Ibusuki no Tamatebako car]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. p. 417. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  5. ^ JR Kyushu. "ふたつ星 4047" (in Japanese).