The two of the long-distance sleeper trains between Tokyo (東京) and Kyushu (九州) are scheduled to be discontinued, and today was their last run. They are Fuji (富士) and Hayabusa (はやぶさ, falcon). Fuji runs between Tokyo and Oita (大分), and Hayabusa runs between Tokyo and Kumamoto (熊本).
At 6:03 PM they left from the platform No. 10 of the Tokyo station where more than 3000 train fans got together to see them, say good by, and take final pictures. Fuji will arrive at Oita at 11:17 AM and Hayabusa will arrive at Kumamoto at 0:31 PM tomorrow.
The long-distance sleeper trains (寝台特急：shindai tokkyu, literally sleeping car limited express) are nicknamed as Blue Trains (ブルートレイン) because of the color of the body. It first appeared in 1956 between Hakata (博多) and Tokyo. At the peak of their popularity in the late 1970's, they appeared in many novels and often described as "hotels on the move."
Nowadays Shinkansen(新幹線: bullet train), buses, and airplanes are faster, more popular and sometimes cheaper. Therefore JR (Japan Railways Group) decided to discontinue this service after more than the half century run.
There are still some Blue Trains. Some of them are so popular that it is very difficult to get the tickets.
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