The is 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 operated 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), which runs between in Tokyo and .
Rolling stock
Since the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, ''Kusatsu'' services have been formed of modified
651-1000 series EMUs, which replaced the
185 series trains previously used on these services.
File:Jnr 185 kusatsu.jpg, 185 series ''Kusatsu'', January 2003
File:JRE651-1000 K108 Kusatsu 20140315.jpg, Modified 651-1000 series set K108, March 2014
History
The ''Kusatsu'' service began on 1 June 1960 as a semi express between Ueno and Naganohara (now
Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi). This was upgraded to become a limited express service from 14 March 1985.
From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, the 185 series EMUs used on these services were replaced by modified 651-1000 series EMUs displaced from ''
Super Hitachi
is a limited express train service operated in Japan by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Jōban Line between Shinagawa Station / Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sendai Station in Miyagi Prefecture. The '' Tokiwa'' service follows the same ...
'' services on the
Joban Line.
Future plans
Effective 18 March 2023, the name of all services will be revised to ''Kusatsu/Shiman''. In addition, all services on the ''Kusatsu/Shiman'' will be updated to require a reservation.
''Kusatsu'' 50th anniversary
![Jnr 185 OM3-Kusatsu-20120103](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Jnr_185_OM3-Kusatsu-20120103.jpg)
In September 2010,
185-200 series 7-car EMU set OM03 was repainted into the ''Shōnan'' colour scheme of orange and green (never previously carried by this type) to recreate the appearance of the early 80 series EMUs, as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the ''Kusatsu'' limited express service scheduled for October of that year.
References
External links
JR East 185 series ''Akagi''/''Kusatsu''/''Minakami''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kusatsu
Named passenger trains of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
Railway services introduced in 1960
1960 establishments in Japan