The Kitakinki (北近畿) was a limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan from 1986 until March 2011, which ran from Shin-Osaka to Kinosaki Onsen in Hyōgo Prefecture.[1]
 183 series EMU on a Kitakinki service, September 2007 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| First service | 1986 |
| Last service | 2011 |
| Current operator(s) | JR West |
| Route | |
| Line(s) used | Tokaido Main Line, Fukuchiyama Line, Sanin Main Line |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | 183 series EMU |
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph)[1] (max.) |
Service pattern and station stops
editAs of January 2011, 11 down services (Kitakinki 1–21) from Shin-Osaka and 10 up services (Kitakinki 2–26) to Shin-Osaka ran daily, with the journey time from Shin-Osaka to Kinosaki Onsen taking approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.[2]
Kitakinki services stopped at the following stations. (Stations in parentheses were not served by all trains.)[2]
Shin-Osaka - Amagasaki - Takarazuka - Sanda - (Shin-Sanda) - (Aino) - Sasayamaguchi - (Tanikawa) - Kaibara - Isō - (Kuroi) - Fukuchiyama - (Wadayama) - (Yōka) - (Ebara) - (Toyooka) - (Kinosaki Onsen)
History
editThe Kitakinki service was introduced on 1 November 1986.[1] The new services used 4- and 6-car DC 183-800 series electric multiple units converted from former dual-voltage (AC/DC) 485 series EMUs. These received a thin crimson line below the window band to signify the improved passenger accommodation.[3]
-
183 series on a Kitakinki service in revised JNR livery, January 2010
Services used 4- or 7-car 183 series formations.[1]
From 18 March 2007, all cars were made non-smoking.[4]
From 12 March 2011, Kitakinki services were rebranded as Kounotori, coinciding with the introduction of new 287 series EMUs.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 42. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
- ^ a b JR Timetable, February 2011 issue
- ^ 列車名鑑１９９５ [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 67. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
- ^ JR電車編成表 2010夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2010]. Japan: JRR. May 2010. p. 183. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1.
- ^ "JR西日本 287系デビュー時に特急「北近畿」を「こうのとり」に改呼" [JR West to rename "Kitakinki" as "Kōnotori" with debut of 287 series]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 39, no. 320. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. December 2010. p. 73.
External links
edit
- JR West Kitakinki information (in Japanese)