1.
overnight train; night train (a train that runs through the night, often with sleeper cars)
A train that travels during the night, allowing passengers to make long-distance trips while sleeping. In Japan, the category traditionally includes sleeper express trains (寝台特急), though most such services have been discontinued in recent decades.
Compound of 夜行 ('running/traveling at night') and 列車 ('train'). Refers specifically to long-distance trains that operate through the night, as opposed to regular urban or commuter services that happen to run late.
Cultural note
Once a central part of long-distance travel in Japan, overnight trains — particularly sleeper trains (寝台列車) — have largely been discontinued due to the expansion of the Shinkansen and budget airlines. Only a few remain, such as the luxury cruise train サンライズ出雲/瀬戸, which retains a nostalgic status among rail fans.
Common collocations
- 夜行列車に乗る: to take an overnight train
- 夜行列車で旅する: to travel by overnight train
- 夜行列車の旅: an overnight-train journey
- 夜行列車が廃止される: overnight train is discontinued
Similar words
- 寝台列車: sleeper train — has beds; overlaps with but is narrower than 夜行列車
- 夜行バス: overnight bus — the modern equivalent for budget travelers
- 夜行便: night flight/service — used for planes and ships
- 急行列車: express train — category based on speed, not time of day
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Neutral written and spoken. Particularly common in travel writing, nostalgia pieces, and discussion of rail history.
Related Words
Compare:
寝台列車 (sleeper train)
Compare:
夜行バス (overnight bus)
Compare:
急行列車 (express train)
Related:
寝台車 (sleeping car)