Hokuriku Shinkansen

Train names and service patterns

Since March 2015, services on the line are split into four types, with train names as listed below. Trains operate over the Joetsu and Tohoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Takasaki.

• Kagayaki: Tokyo–Tsuruga, limited-stop service, since 14 March 2015
• Hakutaka: Tokyo–Tsuruga, mostly all-stations service, since 14 March 2015
• Tsurugi: Toyama–Tsuruga, mostly all-stations shuttle service, since 14 March 2015
• Asama: Tokyo–Nagano, mostly all-stations service, corresponding to existing Nagano Shinkansen service introduced in 1997

The original Nagano Shinkansen Asama services, introduced in 1997, replaced the conventional Shin'etsu Main Line limited express services, also named Asama, which previously took 2 hours 50 minutes from Tokyo (Ueno Station) to Nagano. Following the opening of the Shinkansen, part of the conventional line was abandoned between Yokokawa and Karuizawa. This section included the steeply-graded Usui Pass which required the use of bank engines on all trains. Travel time between Tokyo and Tsuruga is 3 hours 8 minutes, 50 minutes shorter than using a conventional train between Kanazawa and Tsuruga.

Stations

Service column legend:

• The boundary between JR East and JR West lies immediately to the north of Jōetsumyōkō Station.
• Stations in italics are not currently operational.

Notes

As of 2024, the maximum line speed is 110 km/h between Tokyo and Ueno, 130 km/h between Ueno and Omiya, 275 km/h between Omiya and Takasaki, and 260 km/h between Takasaki and Tsuruga.

Rolling stock

• E7 series 12-car "F" sets" (since 15 March 2014)
• W7 series 12-car "W" sets" (since 14 March 2015)

With the start of Nagano Shinkansen services, trains were operated by a new fleet of JR East E2 series 8-car sets. A fleet of 17 new E7 series 12-car trainsets were phased in from March 2014, and these were augmented by a fleet of 10 JR West W7 series 12-car sets introduced from March 2015. The fleet of W7 series was purchased at a cost of ¥32.8 billion.

In 2019, ten trains, eight from JR East with a book value of ¥11.8 billion and two from JR West, were damaged when a train yard in Nagano was flooded as the Chikuma River overflowed during typhoon Hagibis.

Non-revenue-earning types

• East i (E926)

Former rolling stock

• E2 series 8-car "N" sets on Tokyo - Nagano Asama services only
• E2 series 8-car "J" sets
• E4 series 8-car "P50/P80" sets as Max Asama
• 200 series 12-car set F80 during February 1998 only

The original E2 series 8-car "J" sets, primarily used on Tohoku Shinkansen services were also used on some Asama services until they were subsequently lengthened to 10 cars. One specially-modified 200 series set, numbered F80, was used on additional Asama services in February 1998 during the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano. The train was modified to operate on both 25 kV AC 50 Hz and 60 Hz overhead power supplies, incorporated weight-saving measures to comply with the 16 tonne axle load restriction, and included additional control equipment to cope with the 30‰ gradient of the Nagano Shinkansen. Its maximum speed was limited to 210 km/h. The last services operated using eight-car E2 series trainsets ran on 31 March 2017, from which date all Asama services were formed of E7 and W7 series trainsets.

File:N11 Asama 514 Tokyo 20020601.jpg|Nagano Shinkansen E2 series "N" set (Set N11) approaching Tokyo, June 2002 File:E2 J6 Asama Karuizawa 19980218.jpg|Nagano Shinkansen E2 series "J" set (Set J6) approaching , February 1998 File:Shinkansen E4series (4467135007).jpg|An E4 series set (Set P14) File:200 F80 Asama Ueda 19980218.jpg|Modified set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen Asama service, February 1998

History

Nagano Shinkansen

The initial section between Takasaki and Nagano opened on 1 October 1997, in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Between May 2012 and March 2014, station platforms on the Nagano Shinkansen had their platform roofs extended to handle the E7 series 12-car trains which entered service in March 2014 ahead of the March 2015 opening of the extension beyond Nagano. The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to opened in March 2015. The 113 km extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga was approved for construction in June 2012.

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, E7 series trainsets were introduced on Asama services. Initially used on seven return services daily, this number was increased to eleven return services daily from 19 April 2014.

Naming

The line's legal name has always been Hokuriku Shinkansen. However, just before the opening of the Nagano section, JR East decided that using this name in passenger service was to be avoided. From 22 March 1997 until the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, the primary route for Hokuriku customers (from the Tokyo area) was to use the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, then transfer to a Hakutaka service via the Hokuetsu Express, rendering using the Takasaki–Nagano section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen meaningless for them. Therefore, JR East sought other names.

Alternatively, local governments in Hokuriku, fearing construction west of Nagano may be halted, petitioned that the name "Hokuriku" should remain in use for operational purposes.

JR East announced the following solution on 25 July 1997:

• Voice announcements using "Nagano Shinkansen"
• Tokyo area stations using depictions with "Nagano-bound Shinkansen".
• Stations between Annaka-Haruna Station and Nagano Station depicting "Shinkansen" only.

Soon, "Nagano-bound Shinkansen" fell out of use, and timetables by various publishers use "Nagano Shinkansen" only. Construction to Kanazawa was officially decided, thereby reducing the opposition to the name.

Extension beyond Nagano

Construction of the extension from Nagano to Kanazawa was completed on 24 May 2014. When services commenced in March 2015, the travel time from Tokyo to Toyama was reduced to about two hours, with Kanazawa an additional 30 minutes away. Final permission to start construction to Fukui was granted in December 2011, with modification works to Fukui Station already in progress for several years in anticipation of the extension. The extension to Tsuruga was approved for construction on 30 June 2012, and opened on 16 March 2024. Beyond Jōetsumyōkō Station, the line is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) instead of East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Naming issue rises again

Many people speculated about and discussed what the line's operational name should be after Nagano–Kanazawa section is completed.

Nagano economic associations argued a sudden change in name will confuse customers, propose "Nagano–Hokuriku Shinkansen" to be used. In contrast government officials and economic associations in Hokuriku region defended the legal name, including statements such as "a just result should come after 3 prefectures striving for 40 years".

The section west of Jōetsumyōkō belongs to JR West, which did not state an opinion and used "Hokuriku Shinkansen" only.

On 2 October 2013, JR East announced formal line name will be Hokuriku Shinkansen (consistent with National Shinkansen Railway Development Act) and depicted as Hokuriku Shinkansen (via Nagano) to reflect its expansion into the region, resolving the naming issue.

Test-running

Test-running on the JR East section of the line between Nagano and Kurobe-Unazukionsen commenced on 1 December 2013, initially at low speeds using the "East i" test train. From 6 December of that year, test-running commenced using 10-car E2 series trainsets, with running speeds gradually increased to the full line speed of 260 km/h. Test-running continued until the end of March 2014. Test-running on the entire line between Nagano and Kanazawa (Hakusan Depot) started on 1 August 2014, using the "East i" test train. Test-running using W7 series trains commenced on 5 August 2014, initially at low speed, on the JR West section between and .

Tsuruga extension

In the months preceding the opening, JR West conducted various low speed runs on the new Kanazawa-Tsuruga section using "East i" test trains on 23 September 2023. Runs using regular W7 series trainsets started on 26 September. Regular passenger service began on 16 March 2024, with ceremonies at both and from the respective presidents of JR West and JR East. The extension cost to build.

In accordance with the opening of the extension, the limited express service Thunderbird ended its service between Tsuruga and Kanazawa on 15 March 2024.

Electrification

The Hokuriku Shinkansen is electrified at 25 kV AC, but uniquely amongst Shinkansen routes, it crosses Japan’s 50 Hz/60 Hz frequency boundary three times, requiring dual-frequency rolling stock. The section between Tokyo and Karuizawa operates at 50 Hz, the section between Karuizawa and Itoigawa at 60 Hz, and the line then reverts to 50 Hz around Itoigawa before switching back to 60 Hz between Kurobe-Unazukionsen and Tsuruga. To accommodate this arrangement, the E7 and W7 series trainsets are equipped with onboard converters and automatic frequency-switching equipment.

Future plans

The route of the final section from to was finalized on 20 December 2016 as the Obama–Kyoto route. JRTT proposed three possible stations in Kyoto at a meeting that took place on 8 August 2024. Two options include a new station underground near Kyoto Station. The third option is a newly constructed station near Katsuragawa Station, also underground. The route extension is estimated to cost up to and require up to 28 years to complete construction.

Including the Obama–Kyoto route, the following four options were under consideration before the December 2016 announcement, with a fifth unofficial option suggested by a local politician.

1. Maibara Route: This involved building a full standard shinkansen track to Maibara Station. The proposal was one third of the length of the Obama Route, and provided good access to both Kyoto and Nagoya. However, a severe drawback was that it would have resulted in longer travel time to Osaka than the other options and trains would have had to use the existing, already heavily congested Tokaido Shinkansen tracks between Maibara and Shin-Osaka.
2. Kosei Route: This involved no new track construction; instead, this proposal would have upgraded the Kosei Line to , either by regauging or dual-gauging the line to support Mini-Shinkansen, or alternatively utilizing Gauge Change Train (GCT) operations. This was the cheapest option, but meant train speeds would likely be limited to a maximum of 160 km/h and hence travel times would have been longer than the other options.
3. Obama Route: First proposed in 1973, this route involved building a full standard shinkansen track via and . It was the shortest route to Osaka, but also the most expensive (approximately 1 trillion yen), and would have bypassed .
4. Obama–Kyoto Route: This, the now selected route, was first made public in August 2015, and involves following the proposed Obama Route west as far as Obama and then building shinkansen track southward to link with the Tokaido Shinkansen at . Including Kyoto on the route is seen as important to increase tourism.
5. Maizuru Route: Kyoto politician, Shoji Nishida's proposal from Tsuruga, via Obama, to Maizuru then south-east to Kyoto City, southern Osaka City, and Kansai International Airport. This option did not have a price estimated, but would have likely been the most expensive due to the scale of the proposal. Its case was to provide development to the Maizuru region as per the Japanese national government's policy, with the Maizuru Maritime Self-Defence Force Base and several nuclear power stations put forward as reasonable traffic generators. The option to extend the line south of Kyoto to a new Osaka station (, located in the south east of Osaka City) was seen as a means to avoid the congestion of the Tokaido line. It may have served as an alternative route or terminus to Shin-Osaka station for Tokaido line trains, reducing Tokaido line congestion.

A government committee deliberating the proposals decided in April 2016 to narrow the proposed route to three alignments between and and two alignments between Kyoto and (a northern route through Minoh and a southern route through the Kansai Science City). On 6 March 2017 the government committee announced the chosen route from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka is to be via Kyotanabe, with a station at Matsuiyamate on the Katamachi Line. There are also requests from Kyoto City and Kyoto Prefecture, local governments along the route, to further extend the line to .

Interim plans

In an attempt to extend the benefits of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to stations west of Tsuruga before the section to Shin-Osaka is completed, JR West was working in partnership with Talgo on the development of a Gauge Change Train (GCT), which was proposed to be capable of operating under both the 25 kV AC electrification used on the Shinkansen and the 1.5 kV DC system employed on conventional lines. The six-car train was due to start trials on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the Hokuriku and Kosei lines in 2017. As part of the project JR West had begun trials with a purpose-built 180 m long gauge-changer at Tsuruga. However, as a result of the abandonment of the proposed use of a GCT on the West Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki by JR Kyushu, in August 2018 JR West announced that the proposed GCT between Tsuruga and Osaka had been abandoned.

2025 revision

On 16 December 2025, the LDP–Japan Innovation Party coalition under Sanae Takaichi announced that it would reconsider the Obama–Kyoto route that was selected in 2016. The revision came at the behest of Kyoto Prefecture and citing negative economic and environmental impacts. Including the withheld Obama–Kyoto alignment and the two other routes decided upon in 2016, four additional choices were proposed as alternatives. As a result, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has suspended its plans to commence construction in fiscal year 2026.

Conventional lines running parallel to the Hokuriku Shinkansen

With the opening of the initial Nagano Shinkansen section in October 1997, the section of the conventional (narrow gauge) Shinetsu Main Line running along approximately the same route between and was transferred from the control of JR East to a newly established third-sector railway operating company, Shinano Railway, becoming the Shinano Railway Line.

With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension north of Nagano on 14 March 2015, the conventional lines running along approximately the same route were transferred from the control of their respective JR owning companies to newly established third-sector railway operating companies funded primarily by the prefectural and municipal governments through which the lines pass. A total of 252.2 km of route between Nagano and Kanazawa was transferred to four separate operating companies, including 75.0 km of the Shinetsu Main Line between Nagano and , and 177.2 km of the Hokuriku Main Line between Naoetsu and Kanazawa. Details of the five third-sector operating companies and their respective lines are as shown below.

In 2019, it was decided that the section of the Hokuriku Main Line between Tsuruga and Fukui would be transferred to third-sector railway operating companies. Three years later in 2022, it was determined that the section would be split among two operators. The IR Ishikawa Railway would extend their operations from Kanazawa to Daishoji, while a new company, Hapi-Line Fukui, established during the preparation phase, would take over the section between Daishoji and Tsuruga. Hapi-Line Fukui took over the 84.3 km section of the Hokuriku Main Line on 16 March 2024.

References

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