Hakuchō (train)

The Hakuchō service was first introduced from 28 December 1960, as a semi express service operating between Akita and Same via Aomori.[3]

A 485 series EMU on a Hakuchō service at Aomori Station in 1991

From 1 October 1961, the train was upgraded to become a limited express service operating between Osaka and Aomori and Ueno via Naoetsu 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.[3] Hakuchō services between Osaka and Aomori ran until 2 March 2001.

From 1 December 2002, the "Hakuchō" name was revived for services between Hachinohe and Hakodate, coinciding with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension from Morioka to Hachinohe, replacing the earlier locomotive-hauled Kaikyō rapid services which operated between Morioka and Hakodate.[1]

From the start of the revised timetable on 4 December 2010, with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori, the Hakuchō and Super Hakuchō trains were also reorganized to operate from Shin-Aomori to Hakodate via Aomori.

A JR Hokkaido 785-300 series two-car EMU and 789 series six-car EMU combination on a Super Hakuchō service in March 2016

The Hakucho and Super Hakucho services were discontinued in March 2016 ahead of the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen high-speed line. The last services operated on 21 March 2016.[4]