The Haruka (はるか, Haruka) is a limited express passenger train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) mainly between Kyoto Station to Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Dubbed as the Kansai Airport Limited Express (関空特急) by JR West, it is the fastest train service connecting the airport with downtown Osaka and Kyoto, and also travels to and from Yasu via Kyoto during peak hours. As Haruka trains travel over the Umeda Freight Line, they do not serve Osaka Station. A change of trains is required at either Tennoji or Shin-Ōsaka.[2]
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Airport rail link (Limited express) |
Locale | Tokaido Main Line, Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line, Kansai Airport Line |
First service | 4 September 1994 |
Current operator(s) | JR West |
Route | |
Termini | Yasu Kansai Airport |
Service frequency | 30 return workings daily |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | Standard + Green |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | 271 series, 281 series EMUs |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead |
Operating speed | 130 km/h (80 mph)[1] |
There are a total of 30 daily return workings per direction (30 to the airport, 30 from the airport), with services operating every half an hour through most of the day. A typical travel time between Kyoto Station and the airport takes 1 hour 20 minutes per way.[3]
Before the discontinuation of services between Maibara and Yasu, two morning rush hour Haruka trains ran from Maibara to the airport, and one morning rush hour trip from Kusatsu. Two evening rush hour Haruka trains also ran from the airport to Maibara.
The Haruka primarily operates between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport Station, with most services stopping only at Shin-Ōsaka Station and Tennōji Station in Osaka City. Some trains make additional stops during the early morning or evening rush hours (stations in italics in list below).[3]
The train travels over the Umeda Freight Line which bypasses Osaka Station when it runs from the Tōkaidō Main Line to Osaka Loop Line and vice versa, leaving no services going to and from Osaka Station.
Line | Station | Transfers |
---|---|---|
Tōkaidō (Biwako) |
Yasu | |
Moriyama | ||
Kusatsu | Kusatsu Line | |
Ishiyama | Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line | |
Ōtsu | ||
Yamashina | Kosei Line, Keihan Keishin Line, Subway Tōzai Line | |
Kyoto | Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanin Main Line, Nara Line Kintetsu Kyoto Line, Subway Karasuma Line | |
Tōkaidō (JR Kyoto) | ||
Takatsuki | ||
Shin-Ōsaka | Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanyō Shinkansen, Subway Midōsuji Line Osaka Higashi Line | |
Tōkaidō (freight branch) Osaka Loop | ||
Tennōji | Yamatoji Line, Subway Midōsuji and Tanimachi Lines, Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line | |
Hanwa | ||
Izumi-Fuchū | ||
Hineno | Hanwa Line for Wakayama | |
Kansai Airport | ||
Kansai Airport |
6-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Maibara/Kyoto end.[4][5]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbering | KuRo 280 | MoHa 281 | SaHa 281 | SaHa 281-100 | MoHa 281 | KuHa 281 |
Accommodation | Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
Facilities | Toilet | Vending machine | Wheelchair space / Toilet | Toilet | Vending machine |
All cars are no-smoking.[4]
9-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Kyoto end.[4][5]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbering | KuRo 280 | MoHa 281 | SaHa 281 | SaHa 281-100 | MoHa 281 | KuHa 281 | KuHa 280 | SaHa 281-100 | KuMoHa 281 | |
Accommodation | Green | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | |
Facilities | Toilet | Vending machine | Wheelchair space / Toilet | Toilet | Vending machine | Toilet | Toilet | Vending machine |
All cars are no-smoking.[4]
As a limited express service, the Haruka requires both a fare ticket (乗車券, jōshaken) and a limited express ticket (特急券, tokkyūken) – see train tickets in Japan. The ICOCA card can be used as a fare ticket (for passing the ticket gate) for non-reserved travel, with the limited express ticket purchased from the conductor on board the train. There are no extra charges required for the Haruka service for foreign passengers traveling with a Japan Rail Pass.
A free public Wi-Fi service is provided in the train.[6]
The Haruka service was inaugurated on 4 September 1994 using 3-car 281 series EMUs.[5]
6-car 281 series sets were introduced from 2 April 1995, and 9-car (6+3-car) formations were introduced from 14 July 1995.[5]
Non-reserved cars were introduced from 1 December 1998.[5]
The smoking areas were abolished from the start of 18 March 2007 timetable revision.[5]
Haruka services were suspended on 4 September 2018 due to the effects of Typhoon Jebi causing damage to the airport and the Sky Gate Bridge R being damaged by an empty fuel tanker. Services were restored on 8 September 2018, but could only go as far as Hineno Station due to the section leading to the airport being cordoned off for repair works. Through services to the airport were completely restored on 18 September 2018.
From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2020, new 271 series trains were introduced on these services, operating coupled with the existing 281 series sets. From the same date, all Haruka services were formed as nine cars, increasing passenger capacity between Kansai International Airport and Kyoto.
All trains currently run in a special "Hello Kitty"-themed wrapping since 29 January 2019.[7]
Haruka services were reduced since September 2020 due to low passenger demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, only operating during morning and evening commuter hours. Services have since been gradually restored. On 1 July 2022, about half of the daytime Haruka services returned to service, with the remaining services to be reinstated on 1 November 2022 to coincide with the reopening of Japan's borders.[8]
2023 is the expected opening of new underground platforms at Osaka Station set aside for Haruka services.[9]
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Named trains of West Japan Railway Company | ||
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Shinkansen | ||
Limited express (daytime) |
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Limited express (overnight) |
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Limited express (commuter) | ||
Rapid | ||
Other |
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Discontinued |
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Airport rail links in Japan | |
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In service |
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Planned |
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Defunct | |
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