Photo/Illutration A ceremony is held April 6 to mark the departure of the new Yakumo express service from Izumoshi Station in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. (Kazuhiko Ishikawa)

IZUMO, Shimane Prefecture--West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) has started operating a new Yakumo express service on its JR Hakubi Line and other routes connecting the Sanin region and Okayama Prefecture.

It is the first new model to be introduced on the routes in 42 years, the company said.

Yakumo is making 15 round trips daily, and the new model was initially used for six of them.

JR West set a June 15 deadline for the new model to take over all the 15 trips. The new trains are equipped with tilting technology that enables them to lean into curves and offer a smoother ride.

The Yakumo basically operates as a four-car train.

Car No. 1 is designated as a premium Green Car, complete with fold-out seats for group passengers (two for a pair and two for a group of four).

Cars No. 2 through No. 4 are equipped with conventional seats.

A departure ceremony was held early April 6 at Okayama Station in Okayama and also at Izumoshi Station here.

The ceremony at Izumoshi Station was attended by Shoichi Saeki, head of JR West’s Sanin Branch, Tottori Governor Tatsuya Maruyama and Izumo Mayor Toshiyuki Iitsuka.

“We hope (the new train) is used for business and sightseeing purposes as we strive to help revitalize areas along the routes,” Saeki said.

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