The was a "
Blue Train"
limited express sleeper train service 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 pref ...
(JNR) and later by
East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which ran between
Ueno Station
is a major railway station in Tokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park—which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo University of the Arts and other ...
in Tokyo and
Kanazawa
is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 466,029 in 203,271 households, and a population density of 990 persons per km2. The total area of the city was .
Overview Cityscape
...
via the
Shinetsu Main Line
The Shinetsu Main Line ( ja, 信越本線, ) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . S ...
and
Hokuriku Main Line
The Hokuriku Main Line ( ja, 北陸本線, ) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting the Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with the Naoetsu Station in Joetsu, Niigata. The section betwe ...
. The journey took more than seven hours.
["JR Timetable" December 2008 issue] The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010.
Rolling stock
![EF81 149 Hokuriku Takaoka 20100119](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/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.
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.
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
From the 22 November 1959 timetable revision, the train was operated between Ueno and Kanazawa, due to declining passenger numbers between Kanazawa and Fukui. The journey took exactly 11 hours.
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
Noto ( scn, Notu; la, Netum) is a city and in the Province of Syracuse, Sicily, Italy. It is southwest of the city of Syracuse at the foot of the Iblean Mountains. It lends its name to the surrounding area Val di Noto. In 2002 Noto and i ...
''.
The train was upgraded to 14 series stock from 2 October 1978.
2010: Withdrawal
The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010, with the last runs from Kanazawa and Ueno on 12 March 2010.
Preservation
![SuHaNeFu 14-20 Shimoyoshida Blue Train Terrace 20110710](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/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
is a railway station on the Fujikyuko Line in the city of Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan, operated by private railway operator Fuji Kyuko (Fujikyu).
Lines
Shimoyoshida Station is served by the privately operated Fujikyuko Line from to , and l ...
on the
Fujikyuko Line
The is a Japanese private railway line in Yamanashi Prefecture, between Ōtsuki Station in Ōtsuki and Kawaguchiko Station in Fujikawaguchiko. It is the only railway line operated by Fuji Kyuko.
The railway line officially consists of the a ...
. It displays a ''Fuji'' headboard.
See also
*
List of named passenger trains of Japan
References
External links
*
{{JR East trains
East Japan Railway Company
Named passenger trains of Japan
Night trains of Japan
Railway services introduced in 1950
Railway services discontinued in 2010