Hitachi (Japanese train)
Encyclopedia
is the general name for limited express
train services operated by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East) on the Jōban Line
between Ueno Station
in Tokyo
and Iwaki
in Fukushima Prefecture
and Sendai
in Miyagi Prefecture
.
The Hitachi name itself was discontinued from December 1998 with the withdrawal of the last 485 series
electric multiple units on the Jōban Line, with the main daytime limited express services subsequently being named Super Hitachi and Fresh Hitachi.
EMUs were phased in from 2 October 1972, and were used until services were discontinued in December 1998. From 1 April 1973, one return service daily was extended to operate between Ueno and Sendai. From 1 October of the same year, the number of services to and from Sendai was increased to six return services. From 2 October 1978, this number was increased to 11 return services daily, to 12 from 15 November 1982, to 23 from 14 March 1985 with the discontinuation of the Tokiwa express, and to 26 return services daily from 1 November 1986.
During the 1990s, services were operated using Katsuta
-based seven-car 485 series formations with no Green car accommodation. Fourteen-car formations were sometimes used.
EMUs. It operates at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. Services are generally formed of 7-car or 7+4-car formations, with only the 4-car sets continuing north of Iwaki.
From spring 2012, the Super Hitachi services are scheduled to be truncated to operate between Ueno and Iwaki, with new E657 series
EMUs being phased in and totally replacing the 651 series trains by autumn 2012.
EMUs. It operates at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. Services are formed of 7-car, 7+4-car, or 7+7-car E653 EMUs, as well as 7-car or 7+4-car 651 series EMUs.
Fresh Hitachi services are scheduled to be discontinued from spring 2012, and the E653 series EMUs will be reassigned to new as-yet-unnamed limited services operating between Iwaki and Sendai.
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
train services operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) on the Jōban Line
Joban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
between Ueno Station
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and Iwaki
Iwaki Station (Fukushima)
is a JR East railway station located in Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan.-History:*February 25, 1897: Station opens as *December 3, 1994: Station renamed Iwaki Station-Adjacent stations:...
in Fukushima Prefecture
Fukushima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
and Sendai
Sendai Station (Miyagi)
is the major railway hub of the Tōhoku region in Japan, serving more passengers than any station outside the Greater Tokyo Area. It is a stop for all Akita and Tōhoku Shinkansen trains, the eastern terminus for the Senzan Line, and major stop on both the Tōhoku Main Line and Senseki Line...
in Miyagi Prefecture
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
.
The Hitachi name itself was discontinued from December 1998 with the withdrawal of the last 485 series
485 series
The is a limited express electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company in Japan.-481 series:Introduced in 1964, the 481...
electric multiple units on the Jōban Line, with the main daytime limited express services subsequently being named Super Hitachi and Fresh Hitachi.
Hitachi
The name was first introduced on 1 October 1963 for semi-express services operating between Ueno and Iwaki. This operated until 30 September 1967. The name was subsequently reintroduced on 1 October 1969 for a once-daily seasonal limited-express service operating between Ueno and Iwaki using KiHa 81 series diesel multiple units. This became a regular daily service the following year. 485 series485 series
The is a limited express electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company in Japan.-481 series:Introduced in 1964, the 481...
EMUs were phased in from 2 October 1972, and were used until services were discontinued in December 1998. From 1 April 1973, one return service daily was extended to operate between Ueno and Sendai. From 1 October of the same year, the number of services to and from Sendai was increased to six return services. From 2 October 1978, this number was increased to 11 return services daily, to 12 from 15 November 1982, to 23 from 14 March 1985 with the discontinuation of the Tokiwa express, and to 26 return services daily from 1 November 1986.
During the 1990s, services were operated using Katsuta
Katsuta Station
is a train station in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.- Lines :*East Japan Railway Company**Jōban Line*Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway**Minato Line- Adjacent stations :...
-based seven-car 485 series formations with no Green car accommodation. Fourteen-car formations were sometimes used.
Super Hitachi
The was introduced on 11 March 1989, operating between Ueno and Iwaki and Sendai, using new 651 series651 series
The is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit type operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan.Trains operate as 7+4-car formations on Super Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Jōban Line.-7-car sets:...
EMUs. It operates at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. Services are generally formed of 7-car or 7+4-car formations, with only the 4-car sets continuing north of Iwaki.
From spring 2012, the Super Hitachi services are scheduled to be truncated to operate between Ueno and Iwaki, with new E657 series
E657 series
The is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit on order by East Japan Railway Company in Japan for use on limited express services between in Tokyo and on the Jōban Line from spring 2012....
EMUs being phased in and totally replacing the 651 series trains by autumn 2012.
Fresh Hitachi
The was introduced on 1 October 1997 between Ueno and Iwaki, using new E653 seriesE653 series
The is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan.-Operations:Trains operate on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Jōban Line as 7-, 7+4-, and 7+7-car formations....
EMUs. It operates at a maximum speed of 130 km/h. Services are formed of 7-car, 7+4-car, or 7+7-car E653 EMUs, as well as 7-car or 7+4-car 651 series EMUs.
Fresh Hitachi services are scheduled to be discontinued from spring 2012, and the E653 series EMUs will be reassigned to new as-yet-unnamed limited services operating between Iwaki and Sendai.
Rolling stock
Services are operated by the following trainsets.- 651 series651 seriesThe is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit type operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan.Trains operate as 7+4-car formations on Super Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Jōban Line.-7-car sets:...
4/7/11-car EMUs (Super Hitachi, Fresh Hitachi) - E653 seriesE653 seriesThe is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan.-Operations:Trains operate on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Jōban Line as 7-, 7+4-, and 7+7-car formations....
7/11/14-car EMUs (Fresh Hitachi) - E657 seriesE657 seriesThe is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit on order by East Japan Railway Company in Japan for use on limited express services between in Tokyo and on the Jōban Line from spring 2012....
10-car EMUs (from spring 2012)