Kagayaki


The Kagayaki is a express high-speed Shinkansen service on the Hokuriku Shinkansen jointly operated by the East [Japan Railway Company] and the West Japan Railway Company. It operates between and in Japan. The Shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, although the name Kagayaki was previously used for a limited express service operated by JR West from March 1988 to March 1997.

Service outline

The Kagayaki is the fastest service operating on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, with a total of ten daily return workings per direction. Most services stop at only,,, and en route, with some services also stopping at,,, and. The service is capable of traveling at a maximum speed of, with the fastest services between Tokyo and Tsuruga taking 3hours, 8minutes per direction.

Rolling stock

  • E7 series 12-car sets based at Nagano Depot, since 14 March 2015
  • W7 series 12-car sets based at Hakusan Depot, since 14 March 2015
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 sets, 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. From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2024, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line extension to Tsuruga, nine out of the ten daily return workings began to operate as far as Tsuruga, with one daily return working beginning and ending at Kanazawa.