Cassiopeia (train)

Infobox j-rail service
name="Cassiopeia"

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caption="Cassiopeia" at Utsunomiya Station
type=Limited express
operator=JR East
lines=
maxspeed=110 km/h
startyear=1999
endyear=
stock=E26 series sleeping cars

The Nihongo|"Cassiopeia"|カシオペア is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaidō. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.

Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at Ōmiya , Utsunomiya, Kōriyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinoseki, and Morioka. The first stop in Hokkaidō is at Hakodate between 04:00 and 04:30 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo just before nine.

On the return trip from Sapporo, the first stop after leaving Hokkaidō is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day. The arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.

The "Cassiopeia" consists of all type "A" accommodation, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥27,000 for a Cassiopeia Twin room to ¥51,000 for a Cassiopeia Suite.

The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥3,000 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways between Morioka and Hachinohe.

Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods. "Hokutosei" trains make two daily round-trip runs between Ueno and Sapporo.

Route

The "Cassiopeia" runs on the following rail lines:

JR East
* Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - MoriokaIGR Iwate Ginga Railway
* Iwate Ginga Railway Line, Morioka - MetokiAoimori Railway
* Aoimori Railway Line, Metoki - HachinoheJR East
* Tōhoku Main Line, Hachinohe - Aomori
* Tsugaru Line, Aomori - Naka-Oguni

JR Hokkaidō
* Kaikyō Line, Naka-Oguni - Kikonai
* Esashi Line, Kikonai - Goryōkaku
* Hakodate Main Line, Goryōkaku - Hakodate - Oshamambe
* Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
* Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
* Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo

The train changes direction at Aomori and Hakodate.

References

* "ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル" (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File), published 2008 by Kōtsū Shimbun
* JR Timetable, March 2008 issue

External links

* [http://www.jreast.co.jp/cassiopeia/ JR East "Cassiopeia" official website]