Nikkō (train)

Nikkō
A 253-1000 series EMU, February 2011
Service type	Limited express
Operator	JR East/Tobu Railway
Line used	Yamanote Freight Line, Tōhoku Main Line, Tōbu Nikkō Line
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)[1]
Started	1956 (Semi express) 1963 (Express) 2006 (Limited express)
Rolling stock	253-1000 series, Tōbu 100 series

The Nikkō (日光^?) is a limited express train service in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Tobu Railway between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Tōbu Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture.^[1]

History

Semi-express Nikkō

The Nikkō service began as a semi-express service between Ueno in Tokyo and Nikkō 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 duties.^[2]

Semi-express Shōnan Nikkō

From 1 April 1961, the seasonal Ideyu semi express services that operated between Tokyo and Itō 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.^[3] The 157 series EMUs on these services were replaced by 165 series from 25 March 1963.^[3] 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.^[4]

• 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.^[3]

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 EMUs, running as 7-car formations with the inclusion of a "SaRo" Green (first class) car.^[2] This service operated until 14 October 1982, made redundant by the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen.^[5]

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 Shinjuku and Tōbu Nikkō, utilizing a newly constructed link between the two railways' tracks at Kurihashi, where trains stop briefly for a crew change.^[1]

Station stops

Nikkō and Spacia Nikkō services stop at the following stations.^[6]

• Shinjuku
• Ikebukuro
• Ōmiya
• Tochigi
• Shin-Kanuma
• Shimo-Imaichi
• Tōbu Nikkō

Rolling stock

Since 4 June 2011, services are formed of refurbished 253-1000 series 6-car EMU sets.^[7] Tōbu 100 series Spacia EMUs may also be substituted on these services, in which case they are named Spacia Nikkō.^[1] 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]

Past

• KiHa 44800 DMUs (October 1956–September 1959)
• 157 series EMUs (September 1959–March 1963)
• 165 series EMUs (March 1963–October 1982)
• 485 series/189 series EMUs (March 2006–June 2011)

• 

  Tobu 100 series Spacia EMU, October 2007

• 

  JR East 485 series EMU at Omiya Station on a Nikko service, March 2011

• 

  189 series Ayano set used as a spare for Nikko services, September 2010

See also

• Kinugawa - a similar service between Shinjuku and Kinugawa-Onsen, also jointly operated by JR East and Tōbu.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} 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. ^ ^{a b} Kubo, Satoshi (September 2011). "日光参詣への峠道-1 [The mountain route to Nikko]". Japan Railfan Magazine (Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd.) 51 (605): p.120–125. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Miyake, Toshihiko (December 2011). "伊豆への優等列車のあゆみ [History of premier trains to Izu]". Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun) 40 (332): p.24-31. 
4. ^ Teramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd.. ISBN 4-88732-093-0. 
5. ^ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 128. 
6. ^ JR Timetable, March 2010 issue, p.110
7. ^ "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]" (in Japanese). Japan Railfan Magazine Online. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.. 4 June 2011. http://railf.jp/news/2011/06/04/072900.html. Retrieved 4 June 2011. 

External links

• JR East 485 series Nikkō/Kinugawa (Japanese)