The Seven Stars in Kyushu, a luxurious JR Kyushu sleeper train, began running again on Saturday after the coronavirus and torrential rain damage caused it to halt operations for about five months. Many railway fans packed into JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka City to get a glimpse of the train that hasn't been seen for months.
The first train since operations resumed carried 16 passengers and left Hakata Station a little before 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. The station staff waved small flags as they watched the train depart.
"It was really cool seeing the gleaming body," said a first-year junior high school student from Osaka who was filming the train from the platform. "I know it's hard right now because of the coronavirus and the damage caused by the rain, but I want them to keep doing their best."
Measures to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus have also been put in place. There are a total of eight train cars with 14 guest rooms but to avoid the Three Cs -- closed spaces, crowded places and close-contact settings -- only eight of the rooms are being occupied. The number of passengers on board has been nearly halved from the usual 30 as well. The train itself is also kept well-ventilated and passengers undergo temperature checks before they board.
The Seven Stars in Kyushu suspended operations in March because of the coronavirus outbreak. It was scheduled to resume in July but the rain damaged one section of the track, causing it to be delayed by about a month. The current route has been changed to circumvent the damage.
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