The was a
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
The term "limited express" is a common ...
train service in Japan formerly operated by
Japanese National Railways
The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987.
Network Railways
As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pre ...
(JNR) and later by
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East) between and from 1970 until March 2015.
Rolling stock
''Hokuetsu'' services were normally formed of 6-car
485 series
The (and the earlier 481 and 483 series variants) is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and subsequently operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), ...
(sets T12–16) or refurbished 485-3000 series
electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a numbe ...
EMU trainsets (sets R21–28), based at Niigata Depot.
File:JNR 485 kuha481-100 hokuetsu kanazawa.jpg, Original "bonnet-style" 485 series EMU, 1982
File:JRE EC 485 series Hokuetsu K02.jpg, JNR-liveried 485 series EMU, August 2010
File:485 T12 Hokuetsu 4 Naoetsu 20100903.jpg, 485 series in revised livery, September 2010
File:485-3000 R26 Hokuetsu 20130731.jpg, 485-3000 series set R-26, July 2013
Formations
The six-car 485 series sets were formed with car 1 at the Kanazawa end and car 6 at the Niigata end.
All cars are no smoking.
The 485 series sets had toilets in each car, while 485-3000 series sets had toilets in 1, 2, 4, and 6 only.
History
The ''Hokuetsu'' was first introduced from 1 March 1970 as a limited express operating between and .
From 2 October 1978, the operating route was shortened to Kanazawa to Niigata.
![485-3000 Hokuetsu 9 Kanazawa 20150313](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/485-3000_Hokuetsu_9_Kanazawa_20150313.jpg)
''Hokuetsu'' services were discontinued from the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, with the opening of the
Hokuriku Shinkansen
The is a high-speed Shinkansen railway line jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), connecting Tokyo with in the Hokuriku region of Japan. The first section, between and in Nagano Pr ...
between and .
References
External links
JR_West_''Hokuetsu''_information.html" ;"title="ic">JR West ''Hokuetsu'' information">ic">JR West ''Hokuetsu'' information
{{JR East trains
Named passenger trains of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
Railway services introduced in 1970
1970 establishments in Japan
Railway services discontinued in 2015
2015 disestablishments in Japan