The is a limited express

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 service in Japan operated jointly by the 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) and Tobu Railway

Tobu Railway

is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...

 between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...

.

Semi-express Nikkō

The Nikkō service began as a semi-express service between in Tokyo and from 10 October 1956 using KiHa 44800 series DMUs. Following electrification of the line, new 157 series EMUs were introduced from 22 September 1959. These ran as 6-car sets, lengthened to 8 cars during busy seasons. The 157 series sets were subsequently modified with the addition of air-conditioning, and transferred to Tōkaidō Main Line

Tokaido Main Line

The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...

 duties.

Semi-express Shōnan Nikkō

From 1 April 1961, the seasonal Ideyu semi express services that operated between Tokyo and were extended to form new seasonal Shōnan Nikkō services operating between Itō and Nikkō. These were formed of 6-car 157 series sets based at Tamachi Depot in Tokyo. The 157 series EMUs on these services were replaced by 165 series from 25 March 1963. From the October 1968 timetable revision, the services were cut back to a single Nikkō to Itō working, and from 1 October 1970, this service was discontinued, replaced by the Izu 56 working from Tokyo to Itō.

• 2502T Shōnan Nikkō Itō 07:46 → Nikkō 11:59
• 2501T Shōnan Nikkō Nikkō 13:45 → Itō 17:50

The trains were formed as shown below.

Car	1	2	3	4	5	6
Type	KuMoHa 157	MoHa 156	SaRo 157	SaHa 157	MoHa 156	KuMoHa 157

Express Nikkō

From 25 March 1963, the service was upgraded to "Express" status with the introduction of new 165 series

165 series

The was an express electric multiple unit train type introduced in 1963 by Japanese National Railways .-History:In the early 1960s, the Chūō Main Line and Shinetsu Line were electrified, requiring new EMUs for express services...

 EMUs, running as 7-car formations with the inclusion of a "SaRo" Green (first class) car. This service operated until 14 October 1982, made redundant by the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen

Tohoku Shinkansen

The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line, connecting Tokyo with Aomori in Aomori Prefecture for a total length of 674 km, Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island Honshu. It has two spur lines, Yamagata...

.

Limited express Nikkō

The name was subsequently revived from 18 March 2006 as a limited express service operated jointly by JR East and Tōbu between and , utilizing a newly constructed link between the two railways' tracks at , where trains stop briefly for a crew change.

Rolling stock

Since 4 June 2011, services are formed of refurbished 253-1000 series 6-car EMU sets. Tōbu 100 series

Tōbu 100 series

The , branded , is a limited express EMU type operated by Tōbu Railway in Japan since 1990. The trains are used on Kegon and Kinu services to Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen.-History:...

 Spacia EMUs may also be substituted on these services, in which case they are named Spacia Nikkō. Prior to 4 June 2011, JR East services were formed of a dedicated 6-car 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...

 EMU set, which was occasionally substituted by a reserve 189 series set nicknamed .

Past

• KiHa 44800 DMUs (October 1956–September 1959)
• 157 series EMUs (September 1959–March 1963)
• 165 series
  165 series
  The was an express electric multiple unit train type introduced in 1963 by Japanese National Railways .-History:In the early 1960s, the Chūō Main Line and Shinetsu Line were electrified, requiring new EMUs for express services...
  
   EMUs (March 1963–October 1982)
• 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...
  
  /189 series EMUs (March 2006–June 2011)

See also

• Kinugawa
  Kinugawa (train)
  The and are limited express train services in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company and Tobu Railway between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture.-History:...
  
  - a similar service between Shinjuku and Kinugawa-Onsen, also jointly operated by JR East and Tōbu.

External links

• JR East 485 series Nikkō/Kinugawa