Hitachi Rail has introduced its position in manufacturing rolling stock for Seibu Railway Co., Ltd.’s upcoming restaurant prepare, Fine Dining Train “vies.” The prepare is about to begin operations in March 2028, providing a classy eating expertise on the rails.
The Fine Dining Train “vies” builds upon Seibu Railway’s current “Fifty Two Seats of Happiness” restaurant prepare, which has been serving passengers since 2016. The new prepare is designed to supply an much more refined and unique eating environment. The design can be based mostly on Seibu Railway’s flagship restricted specific prepare “Laview,” additionally manufactured by Hitachi, which debuted in 2019.
Hitachi Rail will leverage its experience in rolling stock manufacturing, making use of technical know-how from the Laview undertaking. This consists of creating open and spacious interiors with giant home windows and using design philosophies that harmonize with surrounding landscapes. The prepare goals to supply a snug journey atmosphere that integrates eating and area at a excessive stage.
The naming and brand design for the prepare had been developed by Toshiyuki Konishi and Hideyuki Tanno of POOL inc. and POOL DESIGN inc., respectively. The identify “vies,” which means “lives” in French, was chosen to replicate a respect for nature and the enrichment of passenger lives. The brand design options an natural curve within the letter “s” and an underline, symbolizing the prepare’s type and the wealthy culinary expertise it gives.
Seibu Railway’s current restaurant prepare, “Fifty Two Seats of Happiness,” was designed by architect Kengo Kuma and options design components impressed by Chichibu, a outstanding vacationer vacation spot. The prepare operates totally on weekends and holidays between Ikebukuro/Seibu-Shinjuku and Seibu-Chichibu stations, and it’ll have a good time its tenth anniversary in April 2026.
Hitachi Rail, recognized for its contributions to sustainable mobility, continues to innovate within the railway sector. Its involvement within the Fine Dining Train “vies” undertaking underscores its dedication to delivering high-quality rail experiences that mix know-how, consolation, and aesthetic design.