KATO 10-2112 10-2114 E26 Series "Cassiopeia Cruise"

This is the E26 Series "Cassiopeia Cruise." The E26 Series was introduced in 1999 as a new sleeper car positioned as the top-of-the-line "Hokutosei" train. Nicknamed "Cassiopeia," it served as a luxury sleeper train for many years, but with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, it ceased regular service in March 2016. Since then, it has been equipped with Shinkansen radio equipment for use in the Seikan Tunnel and primarily operated as a tour train around Hokkaido and the Tohoku region. It ceased service to Hokkaido in February 2017, and is now operated within the JR East jurisdiction as a group-only train called the "Cassiopeia Cruise."