Seto (train)

The Seto (瀬戸) was a limited express Blue Train overnight sleeping car train service in Japan operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), which ran from Tokyo to Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku until July 1998.[1][2]

Seto

A Seto service at Takamatsu Station, October 1995
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Japan
First service	1 April 1950 (Express) 15 March 1972 (Limited express)
Last service	10 July 1998
Successor	Sunrise Seto
Current operator(s)	JR West
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Start	Tokyo
End	Takamatsu
Distance travelled	805.0 km (500.2 mi)
Average journey time	10 hours 35 minutes (1998)
Service frequency	1 return working daily
Technical
Rolling stock	24/25 series sleeping cars
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC

Rolling stock

In its latter years, the Seto service was operated using 24/25 series sleeping cars.[3] The train was hauled by a JR East Tabata (Tokyo)-based EF65-1000 DC electric locomotive throughout.[3]

• 
  A JR West MaNi 50-5000 luggage van at the rear of a Seto service in 1990

History

The Seto service (written in hiragana as せと) commenced on 1 April 1950, as an "express" service operating between Tokyo and Uno in Okayama Prefecture.[3] From 11 November 1956, the name was changed to kanji, written as 瀬戸.[3] From 15 March 1972, the train was upgraded to become a "limited express" service.[3] In 1977, the 20 series sleeping cars were replaced by 24/25 series sleeping cars.[2]

From 10 April 1988, the service was rerouted to operate between Tokyo and Takamatsu in Kagawa Prefecture.[3]

From the start of the revised timetable on 10 July 1998, the Seto services were discontinued and replaced by new 285 series electric multiple unit trains running as the Sunrise Seto together with the Sunrise Izumo.[1]

See also

• Blue Train (Japan)

References

1. 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. 305–308. ISBN 4-88732-093-0.
2. 最新特急大カタログ [Modern Limited Express Catalogue]. Japan: JTB. November 1992. p. 110.
3. 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 126.