Travel JR East battles paint shortage ahead of Luna Azul sleeper train debut

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) has unveiled the name of its new overnight express train, but the exact date it will enter service remains uncertain because of disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The new sleeper, named Luna Azul (ルナ・アズール), Spanish for "blue moon", is still scheduled to begin operating in spring 2027.



Its route will change with the seasons. From spring through autumn, the train will run overnight between Shinagawa Station in Tokyo and Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture. During the winter months, it will instead operate as a daytime limited express service to Gunma Prefecture. The exterior will be painted blue as a tribute to Japan's classic long-distance sleeper services, affectionately known as the "Blue Trains."

However, JR East has encountered an unexpected problem. The company said it could not announce a precise launch date because shortages of petroleum products caused by the conflict in the Middle East have made it difficult to obtain paint for the train's interior. JR East said it was considering alternative materials and other measures to keep the planned spring 2027 debut on schedule.

The Lune Azul will be remodeled from a 10-car E657 series train currently operating on the JR Joban Line as the Hitachi limited express. All seats will be reservation-only first-class Green Car seats in private compartments that can hold up to four people. Cars No. 1 and 10 will feature more spacious Premium compartments. The outbound overnight service will depart Shinagawa Station at around 9 p.m., running on the Joetsu and Uetsu lines along the Sea of Japan and arriving at Aomori Station at around 9:30 a.m. the next day. The inbound service will depart Aomori Station at around 4 p.m. and arrive at Shinagawa Station at around 7 a.m. the next morning. It will make two round trips a week. The daytime express service will make six round trips a week between Shinagawa Station and Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station in Gunma Prefecture. The fare for a Green compartment seat is expected to be slightly more than the 24,180 yen ($150) charged for a regular-season Green Car seat on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations.

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