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 introduced 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) in July 1968, and later operated by the

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 in Tokyo and on 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 ...

Nagano Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Nagano Prefecture has a population of 2,052,493 () and has a geographic area of . Nagano Prefecture borders Niigata Prefecture to the north, Gunma Prefecture to the ...

Rolling stock

Services were originally formed using

157 series The was a Japanese DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated on limited express services by Japanese National Railways (JNR) from 1959 until 1980. Operations The 157 series EMUs were first introduced by JNR on ''Nikkō'' semi express ...

EMUs, and services later used

181 series The (and the earlier 151 and 161 series variants) was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) type operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Variants * 151 series * 161 series * 181 series The 151 series trains were introd ...

183 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...

185 series Year 185 ( CLXXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lascivius and Atilius (or, less frequently, year 938 ''Ab urbe cond ...

189 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...

, and

489 series The was a limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in March 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in Japan, and later operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) until 20 ...

EMUs.

Formation

9-car 489 series formations operating in later years were typically formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end.

History

''Soyokaze'' services were first introduced on 20 July 1968 as seasonal limited express services operating between and to supplement the '' Asama'' services which operated between Ueno and Nagano. The services initially used

EMUs, which had been removed from former ''Hibiki'' services in September 1964. From 1969,

EMUs, also used on ''Asama'' services were introduced on ''Soyokaze'' services. When first introduced, ''Soyokaze'' services featured reserved accommodation only, but from 15 November 1982, non-reserved cars were also included. From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 1985, 9-car 489 series EMUs were introduced on ''Soyokaze'' services. From 3 December 1994, ''Soyokaze'' was down-graded to become an occasional service run between Ueno and Nagano, and was phased out before the opening of the

Nagano 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 ...

Special services

''Salon Express Soyokaze''

Seasonal ''Salon Express Soyokaze'' services operated between 28 April 1984 and 5 May 1988 using the ''Salon Express Tokyo''

Joyful Train is the name given to railway rolling stock or train sets operated by the JR Group in Japan primarily for charters, special events, tourist excursions, and other similar purposes. History The "Joyful Train" concept can be traced back to 1960, whe ...

locomotive-hauled trainset.

Revival ''Soyokaze''

On 30 and 31 August 2003,

JR East 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 ...

operated a special ''Soyokaze'' service between Ueno and using

EMUs. On 15 July 2012, JR East ran a special ''Soyokaze'' service between Ueno and Yokokawa using a

EMU in "Amagi"-style JNR era livery. On 8 September 2012, JR East ran a ''Soyokaze'' service between Ueno and Yokokawa using a 185 series EMU in "Amagi"-style JNR era livery. The

Shinano Railway The is a Japanese third-sector railway operating company established in 1996 to operate passenger railway services on the section of the JR East Shinetsu Main Line within Nagano Prefecture when it is separated from the JR East network in Octobe ...

also ran a special ''Soyokaze'' limited express service between Karuizawa and Ueda on the same day, as part of the 15th anniversary celebrations of the creation of the Shinano Railway.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soyokaze Named passenger trains of Japan East Japan Railway Company Railway services introduced in 1968 Rail transport in Nagano Prefecture ja:あさま#信越本線長野以南優等列車沿革