Hakucho (train)
Encyclopedia
The and are Japanese limited express
train services which operate between and via the undersea Seikan Tunnel
. The services are operated by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company
(JR Hokkaido) respectively. The services commenced on 1 December 2002, initially operating between and Hakodate, coinciding with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
extension from to .
6-car EMUs, extended to 8 cars during busy seasons.
The Hakuchō name actually dates back to 1960, as the name of a service which ran from Osaka to Aomori until March 2001. The name was reused for the new services starting in 2002 by popular demand.
6- and 8-car EMUs and a converted 785-300 series
2-car EMU set.
From 1 October 1961, the train was upgraded to become a limited express service operating between and and via using KiHa 80 series diesel multiple units. From 1965, the Ueno services were separated to become the Hakutaka
, and the Hakuchō was rerouted via Niigata. 485 series
electric multiple units were used from October 1972. From 1988, the rolling stock was refurbished and repainted in a new livery of cream with light blue and dark blue waistline stripes. Hakuchō services between Osaka and Aomori ran until 2 March 2001.
From 1 December 2002, the "Hakuchō" name was revived for services between and Hakodate, coinciding with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
extension from to , replacing the earlier locomotive-hauled Kaikyō rapid services which operated between Morioka and Hakodate.
From the start of the revised timetable on 4 December 2010, with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen from Hachinohe to , the Hakuchō and Super Hakuchō trains were also reorganized to operate from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate via Aomori.
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
train services which operate between and via the undersea Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
. The services are operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) and Hokkaido Railway Company
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
(JR Hokkaido) respectively. The services commenced on 1 December 2002, initially operating between and Hakodate, coinciding with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
extension from to .
Hakuchō
The Hakuchō services operate between and using refurbished JR East 485-3000 series485 series
The is a limited express electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company in Japan.-481 series:Introduced in 1964, the 481...
6-car EMUs, extended to 8 cars during busy seasons.
The Hakuchō name actually dates back to 1960, as the name of a service which ran from Osaka to Aomori until March 2001. The name was reused for the new services starting in 2002 by popular demand.
Super Hakuchō
The Super Hakuchō services operate between and using JR Hokkaido 789 series789 series
The is an AC electric multiple unit train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2002...
6- and 8-car EMUs and a converted 785-300 series
785 series
The is an AC electric multiple unit operated by Hokkaido Railway Company on Super Kamui and Suzuran limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan since 1990.-Sets NE 1–5:...
2-car EMU set.
History
The Hakuchō service was first introduced from 28 December 1960, as a semi express service operating between and in Hokkaido via .From 1 October 1961, the train was upgraded to become a limited express service operating between and and via using KiHa 80 series diesel multiple units. From 1965, the Ueno services were separated to become the Hakutaka
Hakutaka
The is a limited express train service jointly operated by West Japan Railway Company and Hokuetsu Express in Japan, which operates between , , and .-Service pattern:...
, and the Hakuchō was rerouted via Niigata. 485 series
485 series
The is a limited express electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company in Japan.-481 series:Introduced in 1964, the 481...
electric multiple units were used from October 1972. From 1988, the rolling stock was refurbished and repainted in a new livery of cream with light blue and dark blue waistline stripes. Hakuchō services between Osaka and Aomori ran until 2 March 2001.
From 1 December 2002, the "Hakuchō" name was revived for services between and Hakodate, coinciding with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...
extension from to , replacing the earlier locomotive-hauled Kaikyō rapid services which operated between Morioka and Hakodate.
From the start of the revised timetable on 4 December 2010, with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen from Hachinohe to , the Hakuchō and Super Hakuchō trains were also reorganized to operate from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate via Aomori.