Kagayaki


The Kagayaki is a high-speed shinkansen train service jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company between and on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, but the name was first used for a limited express service operated by JR West from March 1988 until March 1997.

Service outline

The Kagayaki services are the fastest services operating on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, with most services stopping at only,, and en route. Travelling at a maximum speed of, the fastest services take 2 hours 28 minutes for the journey between Tokyo and Kanazawa.

Rolling stock

Kagayaki services are operated using JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series 12-car train sets based at Nagano and Hakusan depots respectively.

Pre-shinkansen

Kagayaki shinkansen services use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. Cars 1 to 10 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, car 11 is a "Green" car with 2+2 seating, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. All seats are reserved and non-smoking.
Car No.123456789101112
AccommodationReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedGreenGran Class
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, accessible toilet, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, accessible toiletToilets

History

The Kagayaki service was introduced on 13 March 1988 as a limited express service operating between and, to provide a connection travelling to and from Tokyo via the Joetsu Shinkansen. Services operated at a maximum speed of, and stopped at,, and only.

March 1988 – March 1990

From their introduction in March 1988, services were normally formed of 4-car 485 series dual-voltage electric multiple units based at Kanazawa Depot, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.
Car No.1234
NumberingKuHa 481MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

March 1990 – March 1991

From March 1990, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end. From January 1991, a "Green" car was added to the formations.
Car No.123456
NumberingKuHa 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
FacilitiesToiletVending machineToiletToiletToiletPhone

March 1991 – March 1992

From March 1991, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs with a Green car, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.
Car No.123456
NumberingKuRo 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
FacilitiesToiletVending machineToiletToiletToiletPhone

March 1992 – March 1997

From March 1992, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end and car 6 designated as a non-reserved seating car. Car 1 was divided into smoking and no-smoking sections. At busy periods, trains often ran as 8-car formations.
Car No.123456
NumberingKuRo 481MoHa 484MoHa 485MoHa 484MoHa 485KuHa 481
Accommodation Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Non-reserved
FacilitiesToilet, phoneVending machineToiletToiletToilet

Kagayaki limited express services were discontinued from 23 March 1997, with the opening of the Hokuhoku Line and the introduction of new Hakutaka services connecting with the Joetsu Shinkansen at.

Shinkansen ''Kagayaki'' (March 2015 – )

From 14 March 2015, the name Kagayaki was reinstated for use on limited-stop services operating between Tokyo and Kanazawa following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Nagano.