Hokuriku (train)
{{short description|Japanese sleeper train service}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name = Hokuriku
| image = JR East EF64-1052 Limited Express Hokuriku.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = Hokuriku service hauled by an EF64-1000 locomotive, May 2007
| type = Limited express
| status = Discontinued
| locale = Honshu, Japan
| first = 2 November 1950 (Express)
10 March 1975 (Limited express)
| last = March 2010
| operator =
| formeroperator= JNR, JR East
| start = {{STN|Ueno|x}}
| stops =
| end = {{STN|Kanazawa|x}}
| distance =
| journeytime =
| frequency =
| trainnumber =
| line_used = Tōhoku Main Line, Jōetsu Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Hokuriku Main Line
| class =
| access =
| seating = None
| sleeping = 4-berth couchettes
| catering =
| otherfacilities =
| stock = 14 series sleeper coaches
| speed = {{Convert|110|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}
}}
The {{nihongo|Hokuriku|北陸}} was a "Blue Train" limited express sleeper train service formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which ran between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Kanazawa via the Shinetsu Main Line and Hokuriku Main Line. The journey took more than seven hours."JR Timetable" December 2008 issue The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010.
Rolling stock
File:EF81 149 Hokuriku Takaoka 20100119.jpg
The train was formed of 14 series sleeping cars based at JR East's Oku Depot in Tokyo, typically consisting of 8 cars. The train was hauled by a JR East Nagaoka-based EF64-1000 DC electric locomotive between Ueno and Nagaoka, where the train reversed, and by a JR East Nagaoka-based EF81 dual-voltage locomotive between Nagaoka and Kanazawa.{{cite book | title = JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル |trans-title=JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun | year = 2008 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-330-00608-6}}
After the discontinuation, a number of sleeping cars was sold to the Philippine National Railways.
History
=1950: Ueno - Osaka=
The Hokuriku name was first used from 2 November 1950 for an overnight express service operating between Ueno and Osaka via Kanazawa. The journey from Ueno to Osaka took 18 hours 45 minutes.{{cite magazine| last = Inoguchi | first = Makoto | title = 北陸・能登ものがたり |trans-title=The Hokuriku & Noto Story|magazine=Japan Railfan Magazine | volume = 50| issue = 588| pages =16–43| publisher = Kōyūsha| location = Japan | date = April 2010}}
=1956: Ueno – Fukui=
From the 19 November 1956 timetable revision following the electrification of the Tokaido Main Line, the Hokuriku became an overnight train operating between Ueno and Fukui, taking 12 hours 45 minutes.
=1959: Ueno – Kanazawa=
=1968: Ueno – Fukui=
From the 1 October 1968 timetable revision, the previous Echizen overnight train operating between Ueno and Kanazawa became a seasonal service extended to operate between Ueno and Fukui and renamed Hokuriku 1. This train consisted mostly of seating accommodation using SuHa43 coaches. The existing Hokuriku service between Ueno and Kanazawa became the Hokuriku 2 service.
=1975: Limited Express ''Hokuriku''=
From the 10 March 1975 timetable revision, the Hokuriku 1 service was upgraded to become the limited express Hokuriku, operating between Ueno and Kanazawa, with a journey time of 8 hours 47 minutes, and using new 20 series sleeping cars. The Hokuriku 2 service was renamed Noto. The train was upgraded to 14 series stock from 2 October 1978.{{cite book | title = 列車名鑑1995 |trans-title=Train Name Directory 1995| publisher = Railway Journal| date = August 1995 | location = Japan}}
=2010: Withdrawal=
The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010, with the last runs from Kanazawa and Ueno on 12 March 2010.{{Cite web | title = 平成22年春ダイヤ改正について I | work = JR West press release | publisher = JR West | date = 18 December 2009 | url = http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091218_kaisei.pdf | accessdate = 18 December 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091228213150/http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091218_kaisei_kanazawa.pdf | archivedate = 28 December 2009}}{{Cite news | script-title = ja:夜行列車「能登」「北陸」３月で廃止 乗客減、役目終え | newspaper = Toyama Shimbun | language = Japanese | date = 10 December 2009 | url = http://www.toyama.hokkoku.co.jp/subpage/H20091210101.htm | accessdate = 18 December 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091214032513/http://www.toyama.hokkoku.co.jp/subpage/H20091210101.htm | archive-date = 14 December 2009 | url-status = dead }}
Preservation
File:SuHaNeFu 14-20 Shimoyoshida Blue Train Terrace 20110710.jpg
One car from the formation used on the final run of the Hokuriku from Ueno in March 2010, SuHaNeFu 14-20, is preserved on display next to Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line. It displays a Fuji headboard.{{cite web |url= http://www.fujikyu-railway.jp/forms/info/info.aspx?info_id=21456|script-title=ja:鉄道とのふれあいの場「下吉田駅ブルートレインテラス」|trans-title="Shimoyoshida Station Blue Train Terrace" railway interactive space|date=31 January 2012|publisher= Fujikyuko|location= Japan|language= Japanese|accessdate= 2 March 2012}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Hokuriku (train)}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125153423/http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/express/14hokuriku.html |date=25 January 2010 |title=JR East Hokuriku train information }} {{in lang|ja}}
{{JR East trains}}
Category:East Japan Railway Company
Category:Named passenger trains of Japan
Category:Night trains of Japan