Hatsukari

The Hatsukari (はつかり) and Super Hatsukari (スーパーはつかり) were limited express train services in Japan operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from 1958 until 2002.[1]

Hatsukari
Super Hatsukari
E751 series EMU on a Super Hatsukari service, 2002
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleTohoku region, Japan
First service1 October 1958 (Hatsukari)
18 March 2000 (Super Hatsukari)
Last service30 November 2002
SuccessorSuper Hakuchō
Former operator(s)JNR
JR East
Route
StartMorioka
EndHakodate
Line(s) usedTōhoku Main Line
Tsugaru-Kaikyo Line
Technical
Rolling stock485 series, E751 series EMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification20 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead
Operating speed140 km/h (85 mph)

History

The Hatsukari was first introduced on 1 October 1958 as a long-distance steam-hauled limited express service operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Aomori via the Jōban Line.[2] From 1960, new KiHa 81 series diesel multiple units were introduced on the service,[3] reducing the journey time to 10 hours 25 minutes. From 1 October 1968, the train was routed via the more direct Tōhoku Main Line using 583 series electric multiple units.[2]

From 15 November 1982, with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen to Morioka, the Hatsukari service was truncated to operate between Morioka and Aomori. This was extended to operate to Hakodate in Hokkaido from 13 March 1988, following the opening of the undersea Seikan Tunnel.[1] The maximum speed was raised to 140 km/h (85 mph) through the Seikan Tunnel from 16 March 1991.[4]

New E751 series electric multiple units were introduced from 18 March 2000, with the trains running as Morioka – Aomori Super Hatsukari alongside the Morioka – Hakodate Hatsukari services using 485-3000 series EMUs.[1]

The Super Hatsukari and Hatsukari services were discontinued from the start of the revised timetable on 1 December 2002, with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe, and were superseded by new Hakuchō and Super Hakuchō services operating from Hachinohe to Hakodate. The E751 series EMUs were reassigned to new Tsugaru limited express services operating between Hachinohe and Hirosaki.[1]

Rolling stock
  • KiHa 81 series DMUs (1960 – 1968)
  • 583 series EMUs (1 October 1968 – December 2002)
  • 485 series 6-car EMUs (March 1973 – December 2002)
  • 485-3000 series 6-car EMUs ( – December 2002)
  • E751 series 6-car EMUs (Super Hatsukari, March 2000 – December 2002)
  • JNR KiHa 81 series DMU
  • JNR 583 series EMU, 1987
  • 485 series EMU (left), August 1994
  • 485-3000 series EMU, 2002

See also

References
  1. Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 219. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  2. 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. pp. 31, 128.
  3. 最新特急大カタログ [Modern Limited Express Catalogue]. Japan: JTB. November 1992. p. 34.
  4. Kekke, Yoshiyuki (August 2013). "JR高速在来線列車ガイド" [JR high-speed conventional train service guide]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 42 no. 352. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. p. 17.
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