I visited Kyushu Island again, and this time my destination was Miyazaki Prefecture in the southeastern part of the island. I flew to Miyazaki Airport and transferred to a JR Kyushu train.
As soon as I arrived at Miyazaki Airport Station, what caught my eye was a distinctive train: the EMU JR Kyushu 787 series (see the top photo), operating as the limited express Hyuga (named after the old province of Miyazaki). This renowned train entered service in 1992 for 1,067 mm gauge tracks under a 20,000 V (60 Hz) AC electric system. It has a maximum speed of 130 km/h. A total of 140 units were built between 1992 and 2002 by Hitachi and Kinki Sharyo. Its metallic body and futuristic front-end design have made it stand out and remain popular among passengers. The 787 series even won the 1993 Blue Ribbon Prize from the Japan Railfan Club as the best new train of 1992.
More than 30 years have passed since then, and the trains are showing their age. For example, the side destination indicators are still traditional rollsigns (see the photo below), as LED destination signs were never installed. By the way, what do you think of this European-style design today? Does it still look cutting-edge, or does it feel outdated? Personally, my impression of the 787 series changes every time I see it. Sometimes it looks modern and stylish; other times it seems a little old-fashioned. At times its face even looks intimidating, while other times it appears almost charming. Quite a mysterious train! Anyway, it’s been a while—nice to see you again, 787 series.
