JR West to Start "Hello Kitty Shinkansen" Service in Japan in Summer

Osaka, March 15 (Jiji Press)--West Japan Railway Co. <9021> will launch a "Hello Kitty Shinkansen" bullet train service on its Sanyo Shinkansen Line this summer, in collaboration with Sanrio Co. <8136>, the railway operator, better known as JR West, has said. A Hello Kitty train featuring Sanrio's popular kitten character will consist of eight 500 series cars and provide a Kodama Shinkansen service on the line, which connects the western cities of Osaka and Fukuoka. Its design was inspired by Hello Kitty's trademark red ribbon, which well describes JR West's desire for enhancing ties between regions in western Japan with Shinkansen services, the company said. One of the train's unique features will be the absence of passenger seats in car No. 1, which will be dedicated to sales of local specialties, JR West said, adding that car No. 2 will have full Hello Kitty decorations. END