Hitachi Rail has been awarded a manufacturing contract for a new restaurant train in Japan – named Fine Dining Train “vies”.

Developed in collaboration with SEIBU RAILWAY Co.,Ltd.; the train is scheduled to begin operation in March 2028.

The train’s design will build upon and develop a concept established by ‘Fifty Two Seats of Happiness’, Seibu Railway’s full-course restaurant train that has been in operation since 2016. It will aim to deliver a more refined dining experience, and will be designed and manufactured based on the Seibu Railway flagship limited express train ‘Laview’, which was manufactured by Hitachi and debuted in 2019.

Historically, Hitachi has supported Seibu Railway’s existing restaurant train initiative through close collaboration, including the refurbishment of the operator’s 4000 series rolling stock. Designed by architect Kengo Kuma, the exterior and interior of the train feature designs inspired by Chichibu, one of the region’s most prominent tourist destinations, whilst the exterior incorporates motifs of the Arakawa River flowing through the natural landscape. The interior features both traditional Chichibu Meisen textiles and locally sourced Nishikawa timber.

The train operates predominately on weekends and holidays between Ikebukuro / Seibu-Shinjuku and Seibu-Chichibu stations, and is scheduled to mark its 10th anniversary in April 2026.