Kagayaki

The Kagayaki (かがやき) is a high-speed shinkansen train service jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Tokyo and Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, but the name was first used for a limited express service operated by JR West from March 1988 until March 1997.

This article is about the high speed train. For the sumo wrestler, see Kagayaki Taishi.

Kagayaki
A JR West W7 series train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Overview
Service typeShinkansen
StatusOperational
LocaleJapan
First service13 March 1988 (Limited express)
14 March 2015 (Shinkansen)
Current operator(s)JR East/JR West
Route
StartTokyo
Stops3
EndKanazawa
Average journey time2 hrs 28 mins
Service frequency10 return services daily
Line(s) usedHokuriku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es)Gran Class + Green + Ordinary
Technical
Rolling stockE7 series, W7 series
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV AC railway electrification, 50/60 Hz overhead
Operating speed260 km/h (160 mph)

Service outline

The Kagayaki is the fastest service operating on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, with a total of 10 daily return workings per direction. Most services stop at only Omiya, Nagano, and Toyama en route, with some services also stop at Ueno.[1] The service is capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph), with the fastest services between Tokyo and Kanazawa taking 2 hours 28 minutes in each direction.[1]

Rolling stock
  • E7 series 12-car sets based at Nagano Depot, since 14 March 2015
  • W7 series 12-car sets based at Hakusan Depot, since 14 March 2015

Kagayaki services are operated using JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series 12-car train sets based at Nagano and Hakusan depots respectively.[1]

  • A JR East E7 series train

Pre-shinkansen
  • 485 series 4/6-car EMU sets (March 1988 - March 1997)

Formations

Kagayaki shinkansen services use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo (southern) end. Cars 1 to 10 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, car 11 is a "Green" car with 2+2 seating, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. All seats are reserved and non-smoking.[2]

Car No. 123456789101112
Accommodation ReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedGreenGran Class
Facilities Toilets Toilets, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, accessible toilet, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, accessible toiletToilets

History
A JR West 485 series 6-car EMU on a Kagayaki service (date unknown)

The Kagayaki service was introduced on 13 March 1988 as a limited express service operating between Kanazawa and Nagaoka, to provide a connection travelling to and from Tokyo via the Joetsu Shinkansen.[3] Services operated at a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph),[3] and stopped at Takaoka, Toyama, and Naoetsu only.[4]

March 1988 – March 1990

From their introduction in March 1988, services were normally formed of 4-car 485 series dual-voltage (AC/DC) electric multiple units (EMUs) based at Kanazawa Depot, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.[5]

Car No.1234
Numbering KuHa 481MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

March 1990 – March 1991

From March 1990, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.[5] From January 1991, a "Green" (first class) car was added to the formations.[3]

Car No.123456
Numbering KuHa 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Facilities ToiletVending machineToiletToiletToiletPhone

March 1991 – March 1992

From March 1991, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs with a Green (first class) car, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.[5]

Car No.123456
Numbering KuRo 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
Facilities ToiletVending machineToiletToiletToiletPhone

March 1992 – March 1997

From March 1992, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end and car 6 designated as a non-reserved seating car.[4][5] Car 1 was divided into smoking and no-smoking sections.[5] At busy periods, trains often ran as 8-car formations.[3]

Car No.123456
Numbering KuRo 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Non-reserved
Facilities Toilet, phoneVending machineToiletToiletToilet 

Kagayaki limited express services were discontinued from 23 March 1997, with the opening of the Hokuhoku Line and the introduction of new Hakutaka services connecting with the Joetsu Shinkansen at Echigo-Yuzawa.[3]

Shinkansen Kagayaki (March 2015 – )

From 14 March 2015, the name Kagayaki was reinstated for use on limited-stop services operating between Tokyo and Kanazawa following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Nagano.[6]

See also

References
  1. 長野～金沢のあらまし [Outline of Nagano to Kanazawa]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 44 no. 371. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. March 2015. pp. 12–14.
  2. JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. February 2015. EAN 4910053110259.
  3. Teramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 164–165. ISBN 4-88732-093-0.
  4. 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 62.
  5. JR特急電車編成表 1987～2012 [JR Limited Express EMU Formations - 1987-2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. February 2012. pp. 126–139. ISBN 978-4-330-27012-8.
  6. 北陸新幹線の列車名の決定について [Hokuriku Shinkansen train names decided] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: JR East & JR West. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
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