[WTM] Railway & Travel News > Japan Railway News > Tobu could not drive even once ski night train “Snowpal 23:55” bound for Aizu Kogen

Tobu could not drive even once ski night train “Snowpal 23:55” bound for Aizu Kogen

横山 勝巳 / Yokoyama Katsumi

Tobu Railway’s ski night train “Snowpal 23:55” will end the 2020-2021 season without ever being operated.

Tobu 500 series train used in "Snow Pal 23:55" as well as limited express "Liberty" (Photo AC/kiss x7)
Tobu 500 series train used in “Snow Pal 23:55” as well as limited express “Liberty” (Photo AC/kiss x7)

“Snowpal 23:55” is a night train exclusively for skiing and snowboarding using the limited express “Liberty” vehicle. The train departing Asakusa Station at 23:55 runs directly to the Yagan Railway Line and Aizu Railway Line, and arrives at the final stop, Aizukogen-Ozeguchi Station, at 5:23 the next morning. If you change to the shuttle bus, you can enjoy powder snow from early morning at “Aizu Kogen Takatsue Ski Resort” and “Aizu Kogen Daikura Ski Resort” in Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima.

In 2021, the operation was scheduled every Friday, Saturday and the day before public holidays from January 8 (Friday) to March 27 (Saturday). However, due to the state of emergency for the spread of the COVID-19 issued to the Tokyo Metropolitan and 3 prefectures on January 7 (Thursday), the trains from the first day to February 6 (Saturday) was canceled.

After that, due to the extension of the state of emergency, additional suspension was decided until the departure on March 6 (Saturday), and due to this re-extension, the suspension was extended until the departure on March 27(Saturday).

As a result, all the planned 27 times of driving for “Snowpal 23:55” has been canceled and the season will end as it is.

Tobu Railway says that the limited express “Liberty Aizu” bound for the Aizu Kogen is operating according to the timetable, and they are calling for its use.