Nanpū

The Nanpū (南風, English: "south wind") is a limited express train service in Japan operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), which runs from Okayama to Kōchi. Trains are formed of 3-car or 2+3 car sets of 2700 series DMUs, and sometimes are coupled with Shimanto services between Tatotsu or Utazu and Kochi.^[1][2]

Nanpū

A 2700 series DMU on a Nanpū service in January 2022
Overview
Service type	Limited express
First service	1950 (Semi express) 1972 (Limited express)
Current operator(s)	JR Shikoku
Route
Line(s) used	Seto-Ōhashi Line, Yosan Line, Dosan Line
Technical
Rolling stock	2700 series DMUs
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)

Route

The main stations served by this service are as follows. Okayama - Tadotsu - Awa-Ikeda - Kōchi

Rolling stock

• 2700 series 3- or 5-car tilting DMUs (2019– )^{[citation needed]}

Past rolling stock

• KiHa 181 series DMUs (1972–1990)
• KiHa 185 series DMUs (1986–1991)
• 2000/N2000 series tilting DMUs (1990–2021)

History

Nanpū services began as a semi express from the former Takamatsu Sanbashi Station to Kubokawa in Shikoku from 1 October 1950. From 1 October 1968, however, the name was used for express trains operating in Kyushu between Beppu and Nishi-Kagoshima. From 15 March 1972, the name returned to Shikoku, for limited express trains operating between Takamatsu and Nakamura.^[3] New 2700 series trains started operation in 2019, and completely replaced all older 2000 series DMUs by March 2021.^[2]