Raicho
Encyclopedia
The was a limited express
train operated by the West Japan Railway Company
(JR West) between and in Japan until March 2011, using portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line
, Kosei Line
, and Hokuriku Main Line
.
The characters 雷鳥 mean literally "thunder/lightning" and "bird" in Japanese, but the compound word 雷鳥 (raichō) is the name of Lagopus muta, the Rock Ptarmigan, not a mythological creature. The raichō bird is said to live in the Mount Tate
range and is the prefectural bird of Toyama, Nagano
, and Gifu Prefecture
s.
- - - (: Raicho 8 only) - (: Raicho 33 only) - - - - - - - - -
From 11 March 1989, Super Raichō services were introduced, operating between Kobe/Osaka and Toyama/Wakura Onsen.
From the start of the 20 April 1995 timetable revision, new 681 series
EMUs were introduced on Osaka to Toyama services, named Super Raichō (Thunderbird). These became simply Thunderbird
from March 1997.
JR West introduced a "women-only" section in the reserved-seating cars of Raichō and Thunderbird trains from October 2007 following the rape of a female passenger by a man in a train toilet while travelling on a Thunderbird service in August 2006.
The last remaining Raichō service was discontinued from the start of the 12 March 2011 timetable revision, with all trains subsequently using the Thunderbird name.
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 operated by the West Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
(JR West) between and in Japan until March 2011, using portions of the 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...
, Kosei Line
Kosei Line
The is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line was completed in 1974 by the former Japanese National Railways to provide faster access from the Kansai region to the Hokuriku region...
, and Hokuriku Main Line
Hokuriku Main Line
The is a 358.3 kilometer line of the West Japan Railway Company from Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga to Naoetsu Station in Jōetsu, Niigata. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshū, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of...
.
The characters 雷鳥 mean literally "thunder/lightning" and "bird" in Japanese, but the compound word 雷鳥 (raichō) is the name of Lagopus muta, the Rock Ptarmigan, not a mythological creature. The raichō bird is said to live in the Mount Tate
Mount Tate
is located in the southeastern area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Hida Mountains at and, along with Mount Fuji and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan's . The climbing season for Mount Tate is from April until November. It was first climbed by Saeki no Ariyori...
range and is the prefectural bird of Toyama, Nagano
Nagano Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...
, and Gifu Prefecture
Gifu Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. Its capital is the city of Gifu.Located in the center of Japan, it has long played an important part as the crossroads of Japan, connecting the east to the west through such routes as the Nakasendō...
s.
Station stops
Stations in parentheses were not served by all services.- - - (: Raicho 8 only) - (: Raicho 33 only) - - - - - - - - -
Formation
- Green: Green car (first class)
- White: Standard class car
- O: Observation seats
- R: Reserved seats
- NR: Non-reserved seats
- No smoking accommodation
- 6 cars
← Osaka Kanazawa → 1 2 3 4 5 6 O, R R R R NR NR - Women-only seats are available in Car 3.
History
The Raichō service was first introduced on 25 December 1964 as a limited express operating between Osaka and Toyama.From 11 March 1989, Super Raichō services were introduced, operating between Kobe/Osaka and Toyama/Wakura Onsen.
From the start of the 20 April 1995 timetable revision, new 681 series
681 series
The is an electric multiple unit type operated by West Japan Railway Company and Hokuetsu Express on limited express services in Japan.-681-0 series:...
EMUs were introduced on Osaka to Toyama services, named Super Raichō (Thunderbird). These became simply Thunderbird
Thunderbird (train)
The is a limited express train operated by the West Japan Railway Company between and in Japan, using portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, and Nanao Line.-Thunderbird:...
from March 1997.
JR West introduced a "women-only" section in the reserved-seating cars of Raichō and Thunderbird trains from October 2007 following the rape of a female passenger by a man in a train toilet while travelling on a Thunderbird service in August 2006.
The last remaining Raichō service was discontinued from the start of the 12 March 2011 timetable revision, with all trains subsequently using the Thunderbird name.