Hokuetsu
Japanese train service
title: "Hokuetsu" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "east-japan-railway-company", "railway-services-introduced-in-1970", "1970-establishments-in-japan", "railway-services-discontinued-in-2015", "2015-disestablishments-in-japan"] description: "Japanese train service" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokuetsu" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese train service ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Hokuetsu |
| image | Limited express hokuetsu 485-3000bandai.JPG |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | A 485-3000 series EMU on a Hokuetsu service, September 2014 |
| type | Limited express |
| status | Discontinued |
| locale | Japan |
| first | 1 March 1970 |
| last | 13 March 2015 |
| formeroperator | |
| start | |
| end | |
| frequency | 5 return services daily |
| line_used | Hokuriku Main Line, Shinetsu Main Line |
| class | Standard + Green |
| seating | 2+2 unidirectional |
| stock | 485 series EMU |
| gauge | |
| el | 20 kV AC |
| speed | 120 km/h |
| :: |
| name = Hokuetsu | image = Limited express hokuetsu 485-3000bandai.JPG | image_width = 300px | caption = A 485-3000 series EMU on a Hokuetsu service, September 2014 | type = Limited express | status = Discontinued | locale = Japan | predecessor = | first = 1 March 1970 | last = 13 March 2015 | successor = | operator = | formeroperator = | ridership = | website = | start = | stops = | end = | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = 5 return services daily | trainnumber = | line_used = Hokuriku Main Line, Shinetsu Main Line | class = Standard + Green | access = | seating = 2+2 unidirectional | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities = | stock = 485 series EMU | gauge = | el = 20 kV AC | speed = 120 km/h | map = | map_state =
The Hokuetsu was a limited express train service in Japan formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between and from 1970 until March 2015.
Rolling stock
Hokuetsu services were normally formed of 6-car 485 series (sets T12–16) or refurbished 485-3000 series electric multiple unit EMU trainsets (sets R21–28), based at Niigata Depot.
File:JNR 485 kuha481-100 hokuetsu kanazawa.jpg|Original "bonnet-style" 485 series EMU, 1982 File:JRE EC 485 series Hokuetsu K02.jpg|JNR-liveried 485 series EMU, August 2010 File:485 T12 Hokuetsu 4 Naoetsu 20100903.jpg|485 series in revised livery, September 2010 File:485-3000 R26 Hokuetsu 20130731.jpg|485-3000 series set R-26, July 2013
Formations
The six-car 485 series sets were formed with car 1 at the Kanazawa end and car 6 at the Niigata end. All cars are no smoking.
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Numbering | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KuRoHa 481 | MoHa 484 | MoHa 485 | MoHa 484 | MoHa 485 | KuHa 481 | |||
| Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | ||
| :: |
The 485 series sets had toilets in each car, while 485-3000 series sets had toilets in 1, 2, 4, and 6 only.
History
The Hokuetsu was first introduced from 1 March 1970 as a limited express operating between and . From 2 October 1978, the operating route was shortened to Kanazawa to Niigata.
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/485-3000_Hokuetsu_9_Kanazawa_20150313.jpg" caption="JR staff holding a "Thank you" banner on the platform at Kanazawa Station prior to the departure of the final ''Hokuetsu'' service to Niigata on 13 March 2015"] ::
Hokuetsu services were discontinued from the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between and .
References
References
- (2008). "JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル". Kōtsū Shimbun.
- (30 May 2014). "JR電車編成表 2014夏". Kotsu Shimbunsha.
- (March 2014). "JR Timetable". Kotsu Shimbunsha.
- Teramoto, Mitsuteru. (23 July 2001). "国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典". Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd..
- (August 1995). "列車名鑑1995". Railway Journal.
- link. (13 March 2015). NHK News
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::