The Kagayaki (かがやき, "Brilliance") is a high-speed shinkansen train service jointly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Tokyo and Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, but the name was first used for a limited express service operated by JR West from March 1988 until March 1997.

Kagayaki

A JR East E7 series train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Overview
Service type	Shinkansen
Status	Operational
Locale	Japan
First service	13 March 1988 (Limited express) 14 March 2015 (Shinkansen)
Current operator(s)	JR East/JR West
Route
Termini	Tokyo Kanazawa
Stops	3
Average journey time	2 hrs 27 mins
Service frequency	10 return services daily
Line(s) used	Hokuriku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es)	Gran Class + Green + Ordinary
Technical
Rolling stock	E7 series, W7 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC railway electrification, 50/60 Hz overhead
Operating speed	260 km/h (160 mph)

Service outline

The Kagayaki is the fastest service operating on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, with a total of 10 daily return workings per direction. Most services stop at only Omiya, Nagano, and Toyama en route, with some services also stopping at Ueno and Takasaki.[1] The service is capable of travelling at a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph), with the fastest services between Tokyo and Kanazawa taking 2 hours 27 minutes per direction.[1]

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.[1]

• 
  A JR East E7 series train

Pre-shinkansen

• 485 series 4/6-car EMU sets (March 1988 - March 1997)

Formations

Kagayaki shinkansen services use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo (southern) 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.[2]

History

The Kagayaki service was introduced on 13 March 1988 as a limited express service operating between Kanazawa and Nagaoka, to provide a connection travelling to and from Tokyo via the Joetsu Shinkansen.[3] Services operated at a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph),[3] and stopped at Takaoka, Toyama, and Naoetsu only.[4]

March 1988 – March 1990

From their introduction in March 1988, services were normally formed of 4-car 485 series dual-voltage (AC/DC) electric multiple units (EMUs) based at Kanazawa Depot, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.[5]

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Numbering	KuHa 481	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	KuHa 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.[5] From January 1991, a "Green" (first class) car was added to the formations.[3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuHa 481	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	KuHa 481
Accommodation	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Vending machine	Toilet	Toilet	Toilet	Phone

March 1991 – March 1992

From March 1991, services were normally formed of 6-car Kanazawa-based 485 series EMUs with a Green (first class) car, as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa end.[5]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuRo 481	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	KuHa 481
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Vending machine	Toilet	Toilet	Toilet	Phone

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.[4][5] Car 1 was divided into smoking and no-smoking sections.[5] At busy periods, trains often ran as 8-car formations.[3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuRo 481	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	KuHa 481
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved
Facilities	Toilet, phone	Vending machine	Toilet	Toilet	Toilet

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 Echigo-Yuzawa.[3]

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.[6]

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kagayaki (Shinkansen).

• JR West Kagayaki train information (in Japanese)