Kounotori (train)


The Kounotori is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company between and in Japan since 12 March 2011. It replaced the previous Kitakinki services.
The name means "stork", and was chosen because the stork is the prefectural bird of Hyōgo, and the city of Toyooka in particular has close involvement with stork breeding programmes.

Service pattern and station stops

14 down services from Shin-Osaka and 13 up services to Shin-Osaka run daily, with the journey time from Shin-Osaka to Kinosaki Onsen taking approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
Kounotori services stop at the following stations.
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Kounotori, Kinosaki, Hashidate, Maizuru, and Hamakaze constitute the of limited express services connecting the northern Kinki/Kansai region with the Keihanshin metropolitan area.

Rolling stock

The following rolling stock is used on Kounotori services.
289 series EMUs converted from former dual-voltage 683 series trainsets were introduced on Kounotori services from 31 October 2015, replacing the remaining JNR-era 381 series trains.

Former rolling stock