The Potential of a New Era of Night Trains, as Felt on the Tokaido Lumiere Express

It seems a night Shinkansen is going to run

It was in June that I heard a night Shinkansen would be running in August.

It departs Tokyo at night, spends the night at Gifu-Hashima Station, and then stops at Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.
The debate over whether a night Shinkansen could exist, and what form it might take, had long been discussed among rail fans, but I was amazed by a schedule that seemed to realize that idea exactly, and I immediately decided to ride it.

Then, on the day tickets went on sale, I couldn't secure a seat as they were selling at an incredible pace, and although I gave up on riding for a moment, I was lucky enough to secure a cancellation for a Green Car seat, and I was able to ride it without issue.

In this article, rather than a chronological travelogue, I would like to think about the potential for future night trains that I felt after actually using it for one night.

I realized the character and positioning of this train from seeing a 500 series eye mask

On the Lumiere Express, I saw someone using an eye mask that had been distributed during a 500 series Shinkansen night train project held a little while ago.
What I felt from that was that even though it is the same night Shinkansen, the character is quite different.

The other one is a product where spending the night on the 500 series itself is the purpose, while this one is strictly for practical use. Although there was a modest welcome event at Gifu-Hashima Station, there were no other events or merchandise. The fare is also almost the same as a regular Shinkansen.

Interestingly, JR Central's official announcement does not describe this train as a night train.
Is a night train a train that continues to run through the night?
Or is it a means of transportation for moving and resting during the night so that you can be active at your destination from the next morning?

What I felt after actually riding it for one night was that by refashioning the night train for the modern age in the latter sense, a different value than before is being created for night trains.
And I thought that this could become a sufficiently competitive option for future night travel.

A regular Shinkansen until Gifu-Hashima

The Lumiere Express departs Tokyo Station, stops at Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama, and heads west. The atmosphere inside the train until Gifu-Hashima Station, where it stops for a long time, was no different from a regular Shinkansen, rather than that of a night train.
Some people were eating bento boxes, and some were drinking alcohol. On the other hand, not many people were sleeping.
It's not that you can't eat or drink on a highway bus, but I think it's unique to railways that this way of spending time is naturally possible.

The Lumiere Express opens its doors after arriving at Gifu-Hashima Station, and there is a 30-minute window to step out onto the platform. Everyone takes care of their business at vending machines or smoking areas, and after the doors close again, they do not open until departure the next morning.
In the announcement after the doors closed, there was a request to spend the late-night hours quietly, and from this point on, the atmosphere inside the train changed all at once into that of a night train.

The value of not selling seats

This time, only window seats were sold for both ordinary cars and Green Cars.
After spending the night, the value of having no one next to me was greater than I had imagined.
The peace of mind that a stranger won't come next to you, being able to put your luggage down, and not having to wake the person next to you when going to the restroom in the middle of the night. Especially in the 3-seat row of the ordinary car, since the B and C seats are empty, there is quite a lot of room horizontally. In fact, I saw people using the empty seats to lie down sideways to rest.
I also saw a few groups who seemed to have taken front and back window seats, turning their seats to face each other to stretch their legs and rest. It was a scene I had seen on empty night trains in the past, and it seems people think the same thing in every era.

I rode in the Green Car, and the spaciousness of the Green Car seat, the deep reclining, the rental blanket, and the two power outlets were very much appreciated. On the other hand, the 3-seat row in the ordinary car has enough horizontal space to lie down sideways. I think this is a major appeal that the Green Car does not have. With the way it was sold this time, power outlets can definitely be used in both ordinary and Green cars. Which one is better for a night train was surprisingly a difficult question.
Also, in the post-ride survey, there was a question about selling the C seat, which is the aisle seat in the 3-seat row of the ordinary car.
Personally, I don't think they should do it, at least not for all cars. It might be okay to sell the C seat in some cars at a lower price, but basically, I feel like the goodness of this train would be greatly diminished.

In both ordinary and Green cars, many people reclined their seats quite deeply.
On a normal train, empty seats are just unsold inventory. But on a night train, the empty seat itself can be a product value. The window-seat-only sales this time made me feel that strongly.

The 'presence of people' lowered the hurdle for night travel

It seems that about 40% of the users of this Lumiere Express were women.
Also, many women-only cars were set up.
Women-only cars have existed on past night trains, but the large number of cars this time felt quite bold.

However, what was more impressive was the abundant human resources allocated.
Conductors, security guards, and JR Central staff patrolled frequently even during the late-night hours, and there were also female conductors. There were also multiple staff members on the deck, and even if there was something I didn't understand, there were so many of them that I felt I could just ask someone nearby. I had never felt the presence of people this much on any night train I had ridden in the past.

This might be a trivial matter for people who are used to transportation that moves during the late-night hours. However, I think it is significant for those using it for the first time.
I think it is a very great value that there is someone who can respond immediately when a woman is using it alone, when she feels unwell, or when something she doesn't understand or a problem occurs in the middle of the night.

Also, sleeping on a means of transportation that moves during the late-night hours means letting your guard down among strangers.
The ease of sleeping is not determined solely by the angle of the seat or your posture. I felt that being able to safely let your guard down is also an important element, and what supports that is not just the facilities, but also the soft aspect of the presence of people.
In terms of facilities, there are security cameras inside the train. Also, the fact that it is a dedicated travel product that requires advance reservation, rather than a train where anyone can board on the spot with a regular ticket, also seemed to lead to psychological peace of mind. Since the doors are closed during the late-night hours at Gifu-Hashima Station, it can also be interpreted that general passengers cannot freely enter from the outside.

The inside of the train was at normal brightness all night long. A clear weakness if you only think about sleeping.
However, this was announced in advance, and it can be dealt with using an eye mask. On the other hand, if it is bright, you can see the surroundings and the state of the patrolling staff, and there is a sense of security when you leave your seat in the middle of the night.
After actually spending the night, it didn't seem like it was just a matter of making it dark because it's a night train.

The frequent patrols also didn't disturb my sleep as much as I thought they would. Of course, I think it depends on the person.
One of the reasons for this is that many people, including myself, were sleeping leaning toward the window side. Since there is a certain distance from the aisle, I think the window-seat-only sales this time also had the effect of slightly alleviating the feeling of pressure from the frequent patrols.

However, I am not sure if this level of staffing was only possible because it was the inaugural run, or if it can be maintained in the future. Balancing a sense of security with costs will likely be a challenge for future operations.

There was meaning in the 'six hours of not running'

The long stop at Gifu-Hashima was originally born out of operational constraints.
While there are certainly opinions questioning the value of a night train that sits at a station for so long, as a passenger spending the night, I found this had unexpected benefits.

First, it didn't sway. This is natural since it wasn't moving, but it was genuinely easier to sleep, and I felt less tired the next morning compared to taking a highway bus or a seated night train. Of course, it is not the same as a sleeper train where you can lie down in a bed, or a hotel.

It was also helpful when going to the restroom or sink while still groggy from sleep. Personally, I found it much easier to take out and put in my contact lenses.

On the other hand, a drawback I felt was that the breathing and snoring of those around me stood out.
Because the train does not move, the interior becomes quite quiet. As a result, the breathing and snoring of others became more noticeable.
I had thought that quiet would make it easier to sleep, so I didn't realize this until I actually spent the night, but I think bringing earplugs is a good idea.
Next is the air conditioning. It was cold, so I used a blanket from the Green Car.
If it is to be used as a night train, it would be good to have some adjustments, such as regulating the air conditioning or providing blankets to passengers in standard cars upon request. I think it is also a good idea to bring something to throw over yourself.

This is a separate issue from the long stop, but the sinks were sometimes crowded in the morning. Since these are standard cars and not dedicated night train carriages, they tend to get crowded during wake-up times. I felt the limitations here. On the other hand, I did not feel that the restrooms were particularly crowded.
While dedicated sleeper facilities are not essential, there may still be room for ingenuity in how standard cars are operated for overnight use.

A night train where you can step out onto the platform for 30 minutes

I was able to step out onto the platform for about 30 minutes each at night and in the morning. In the practical night trains I have ridden so far, there has almost never been an opportunity to spend 30 minutes freely on the platform.
This was quite refreshing; getting fresh air, walking around, and buying drinks. Even just this was a great way to recharge.
In particular, when the doors opened in the morning and I stepped onto the platform, the morning air I breathed at Gifu-Hashima Station felt wonderful.

At night, it was impressive that there was a longer line at the ice cream vending machine than at the drink vending machine. Even after the announcement that the doors would close soon, the doors did not end up closing until the last person finished buying their items.
As far as I could see, I didn't notice any drinks being sold out.

30 minutes felt both long and short.
If you consider using it after events like concerts or baseball games where the end time is unpredictable, there are times when, as a passenger, you would want the departure from Tokyo to be as late as possible.
Of course, it is not a simple matter in terms of the timetable, but whether it is better to take the 30 minutes to spend on the platform or to cut that time down to leave later—which is better seems to depend on the user demographic and the constraints of the schedule.
Also, while ice cream sold well on the platform at night, I don't think there is a need to sell late-night snacks. It might disturb those trying to sleep.
On the other hand, there might be room to sell a simple breakfast in the morning.
You can choose to keep sleeping or step out onto the platform to get some fresh air. Being able to choose how to spend the night in this way was also an interesting aspect of this train.

It is a Shinkansen, but what it sells is not 'speed'

It arrived at Shin-Osaka at 6:59 AM.
After that, I was able to take the Kuroshio No. 1 directly to Gobo, ride the Kishu Railway from that morning, and even walk along the abandoned tracks.
This was an itinerary that could only have been realized with the Lumiere Express.
And in practical terms, I think the time setting is very well done.
The Lumiere Express leaves Tokyo 36 minutes later than the last 'Nozomi' bound for Shin-Osaka, while arriving at Shin-Osaka 1 hour and 23 minutes earlier than the first 'Nozomi' from Tokyo. You could say that if you go to Tokyo Station just 36 minutes earlier, you can arrive in Shin-Osaka on the same day, but if you are returning from a concert or event, those 36 minutes are significant. And by the next morning, it becomes a difference of 1 hour and 23 minutes, connecting to the first transportation networks of the morning.
Regarding this, it is more about the competitiveness that the night train itself possesses rather than it being a Shinkansen. In this respect, the fact that it is a Shinkansen does not have that much meaning in itself.

It was much more comfortable than the seated night trains or night buses I have ridden so far. In fact, when I arrived at Shin-Osaka, I felt like I could go for the whole day. However, it is also true that I slept soundly on the return Kuroshio train.

Not new equipment, but a change in how it is used

Thinking about it again, the Lumiere Express this time hardly provided any dedicated equipment for a night train.

The three-seat rows in standard cars are originally equipment for carrying three people, but by selling only the window seats, it became a space for one person to spend the night. The long stops that would be a waste of time on a normal train, while originally born from operational constraints, functioned as time to rest without swaying from the passenger's perspective.

Rather than adding something new, it gave a new role as a night train to the existing Shinkansen equipment and operations.
I think that is the interesting part of the Lumiere Express.

Neither a night bus nor a sleeper train

Recently, due to rising prices, the surge in accommodation costs has become quite noticeable. JR Central also cited the rise in accommodation costs as one of the backgrounds for this project.
In such a situation, there is a certain level of expected demand for traveling late at night to avoid the need for an overnight stay. On the other hand, the bus industry as a whole is facing a serious shortage of drivers.

In fact, the range of passengers I saw this time was broad, including people of all ages and genders; there were many men with cameras, and I also saw several families. Among the women, there were some who seemed to be returning from concerts or events, and I also saw people with luggage or clothing that suggested they were returning from theme parks.

Night buses have their own strengths. The Sunrise has a clear advantage as a sleeper train where you can lie down and sleep.
On the other hand, I don't think the Lumiere Express needs to move closer to either of those.
If price and transport efficiency are prioritized too much, the sense of space and human-centered peace of mind provided this time will be eroded. Conversely, if you seek sleeper facilities like those on the Sunrise, you would need dedicated rolling stock.

Rather, it seems more suited to the character of this train to polish it as a third, separate option that allows you to cross through the night and connect to the next morning while retaining the convenience of the Shinkansen you use every day.
Of course, if a sleeper Shinkansen with dedicated rolling stock were to appear, I would personally welcome it with open arms.

If it runs again

First, regarding the sale of C seats in standard cars, I would personally prefer to avoid selling them in every car.
However, taking advantage of the 16-car formation, it might be good to divide the train into cars that prioritize price by selling C seats, and cars that only sell window seats as was done this time.
I saw a few people traveling in groups, so I think it would be interesting to have seat configurations for groups as well.
I would like to see the women-only cars and the human support provided by staff continue in the future.
I think the ease of asking questions to the staff is particularly important.
Frequent patrols would also be a factor in lowering the hurdle for those not accustomed to traveling at night.

On the other hand, the biggest problem is cost. It is possible that there were many people because it was the first time.
Regarding this, I feel that rather than cutting back on space or peace of mind to maintain the price, it would be more interesting as a product to keep the current features even if it becomes slightly more expensive.

I also thought it might be good to provide a certain number of blankets in the standard cars as a countermeasure against air conditioning.

As for the lighting, I think it is fine as it was this time.
Also, I would like to see a setting for the opposite direction, such as from Kansai to Tokyo. For concerts and sports events, it can be difficult to predict the exact time the performance or game will end. For transportation that travels late at night, there is value not only in what time you arrive the next morning, but also in how late you can stay at the destination the previous night. I think there might be a different demand from this time for a schedule that allows leaving Kansai as late as possible and arriving in Tokyo early the next morning.

Conclusion

The Lumiere Express is not a revival of the old night trains moved onto the Shinkansen as they were.

There are no sleepers or private rooms. The interior lights do not turn off. It uses the same Shinkansen as usual, and it makes long stops in the middle of the night.
Even so, the feeling of riding it for one night was exactly that of a night train.

Leaving Tokyo at night, sleeping along the way, and breathing the outside air at Gifu-Hashima Station in the morning. Once you arrive in Shin-Osaka, you can start your day by taking the first train of the morning.

In the morning, there was a strange sense of solidarity among the people who had spent the night on the same train, similar to what I felt on the old night trains.

I don't think running a night train in the modern era means recreating the same form as in the past.

Space, peace of mind, and how to use time. It is about reshaping the nature of night trains to match what today's users are looking for.

The "possibilities of a new era of night trains" that I felt while riding the Lumiere Express were found in exactly that.