The was an overnight sleeper train service in Japan operated by JR West from Kyoto Station to Nagasaki Station and return. It ran on the Tōkaido, Sanyō, Kagoshima, and Nagasaki main lines.
From October 2005, the train ran coupled with the Naha sleeper between Kyoto Station and Tosu Station.
Due to falling passenger numbers, both the Naha and Akatsuki services ceased following the March 15, 2008 timetable revision.
Schedule Timetable of Akatsuki, as of March 2008 before its discontinuation kmStationTrain #31forNagasakiTrain #32forKyoto0.0Kyoto20:02Dp 7:53Ar 39.0Shin-Osaka20:28Ar 7:24Dp 20:35Dp 7:24Ar 42.8Osaka20:41Ar 7:19Dp 20:47Dp 7:17Ar 73.4Sannomiya21:10Ar 6:53Dp 21:11Dp 6:52Ar 130.7Himeji21:53Ar 6:08Dp 21:55Dp 6:06Ar 219.3Okayama23:00Ar 5:03Dp 23:02Dp 5:01Ar 235.2Kurashiki23:16Ar 4:48Dp 23:16Dp 4:47Ar 277.6Fukuyama23:49Ar 4:16Dp 23:50Dp 4:16Ar 297.7Onomichi0:07Ar ↑0:07Dp 309.2Mihara0:20Ar ↑0:21Dp 535.1Shin-Yamaguchi↓0:49Dp 0:48Ar 560.4Ube↓0:27Dp 0:27Ar 570.2Asa↓0:18Dp 0:17Ar 604.0Shimonoseki4:22Ar 23:49Dp 4:29Dp 23:44Ar 610.3Moji4:36Ar 23:37Dp 4:42Dp 23:31Ar 615.8Kokura4:49Ar 23:24Dp 4:50Dp 23:24Ar 629.7Kurosaki5:04Ar 23:12Dp 5:04Dp 23:12Ar 683.0Hakata5:52Ar 22:31Dp 5:53Dp 22:30Ar 711.6Tosu6:17Ar 22:07Dp Train #33Train #346:34Dp 21:48Ar 736.6Saga6:52Ar 21:29Dp 6:53Dp 21:29Ar 751.2Hizen-Yamaguchi7:05Ar 21:17Dp 7:05Dp 21:17Ar 766.2Hizen-Kashima7:17Ar 20:05Dp 7:18Dp 20:04Ar 812.0Isahaya8:12Ar 20:11Dp 8:13Dp 20:11Ar 836.9Nagasaki8:55Ar 19:47Dp Source:Ekikara Jikokuhyō
History Akatsuki, as an overnight limited express service, was introduced on October 1, 1965, by Japanese National Railways. It was operated between Shin-Ōsaka and two destinations in Kyūshū, namely Nishi-Kagoshima (present-day Kagoshima-Chūō) and Nagasaki. It was connected at Shin-Ōsaka with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen.
In the 1960s, the operation of Akatsuki was increased. Its maximum operation was 14 services (7 round-trips) a day in the mid-1970s, and all of them were connected with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen.
At the end of the 1970s, the number of Akatsuki services was reduced due to decreasing ridership.
From November 1986, Akatsuki remains as only two services (one round-trips) a day.
Due to falling passenger numbers, the service was discontinued in March 2008.
Rolling stock
Historically, Akatsuki used the following types of coaches: 20 series passenger cars 14/15 series passenger cars 24/25 series passenger cars When the train was discontinued, the train consisted of 14/15 series cars.
See also List of named passenger trains of Japan
References