Kinugawa (train)

Kinugawa
Spacia Kinugawa
A 253-1000 series EMU, February 2011
Overview
Service typeLimited express
First service2006
Current operator(s)JR East/Tobu Railway
Route
Line(s) usedYamanote Freight Line, Tōhoku Main Line, Tōbu Nikkō Line, Tōbu Kinugawa Line
Technical
Rolling stock253-1000 series, Tobu 100 series
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)[1]

The Kinugawa (きぬがわ) and Spacia Kinugawa (スペーシアきぬがわ) are limited express train services in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Tobu Railway between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Kinugawa-Onsen in Tochigi Prefecture.[1]

Station stops

Kinugawa and Spacia Kinugawa services alike stop at the following stations.[2]

Rolling stock

Since 4 June 2011, Kinugawa services are formed of refurbished 253-1000 series 6-car EMU sets,[3] and Spacia Kinugawa services are formed of Tobu 100 series Spacia EMUs. Prior to 4 June 2011, JR East services were formed of a dedicated 6-car 485 series EMU set, which was occasionally substituted by a reserve 189 series set nicknamed Ayano (彩野).[1]

  • Tobu 100 series EMU on a Spacia Kinugawa service at Ikebukuro Station, April 2019
    Tobu 100 series EMU on a Spacia Kinugawa service at Ikebukuro Station, April 2019
  • Tobu 100 series EMU on a Spacia Kinugawa service, May 2009
    Tobu 100 series EMU on a Spacia Kinugawa service, May 2009
  • JR East 485 series EMU on a Kinugawa service, May 2006
    JR East 485 series EMU on a Kinugawa service, May 2006
  • 189 series "Ayano" set on a Kinugawa service at Shinjuku Station, June 2007
    189 series "Ayano" set on a Kinugawa service at Shinjuku Station, June 2007

History

The Kinugawa service was introduced from 18 March 2006 as a limited express service operated jointly by JR East and Tobu between Shinjuku and Kinugawa-Onsen, utilizing a newly constructed link between the two railways' tracks at Kurihashi Station, where trains stop briefly for a crew change.[1]

From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013, Kinugawa services also stop at Urawa Station.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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. 76. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  2. ^ JR Timetable, March 2013 issue, p.102
  3. ^ 485系が"日光"・"きぬがわ"運用を終える [End of 485 series operations on Nikko and Kinugawa services]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 June 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.