Hokuriku (train)

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title: "Hokuriku (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["east-japan-railway-company", "named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "night-trains-of-japan", "railway-services-introduced-in-1950", "railway-services-discontinued-in-2010"] description: "Japanese sleeper train service" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokuriku_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Japanese sleeper train service ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]

Field	Value
name	Hokuriku
image	JR East EF64-1052 Limited Express Hokuriku.jpg
image_width	300px
caption	Hokuriku service hauled by an EF64-1000 locomotive, May 2007
type	Limited express
status	Discontinued
locale	Honshu, Japan
first	2 November 1950 (Express)
10 March 1975 (Limited express)
last	March 2010
formeroperator	JNR, JR East
start
end
line_used	Tōhoku Main Line, Jōetsu Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Hokuriku Main Line
seating	None
sleeping	4-berth couchettes
stock	14 series sleeper coaches
speed	110 km/h
::

| name = Hokuriku | image = JR East EF64-1052 Limited Express Hokuriku.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = Hokuriku service hauled by an EF64-1000 locomotive, May 2007 | type = Limited express | status = Discontinued | locale = Honshu, Japan | first = 2 November 1950 (Express) 10 March 1975 (Limited express) | last = March 2010 | operator = | formeroperator= JNR, JR East | start = | stops = | end = | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = | trainnumber = | line_used = Tōhoku Main Line, Jōetsu Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Hokuriku Main Line | class = | access = | seating = None | sleeping = 4-berth couchettes | catering = | otherfacilities = | stock = 14 series sleeper coaches | speed = 110 km/h

The Hokuriku was a "Blue Train" limited express sleeper train service formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which ran between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Kanazawa via the Shinetsu Main Line and Hokuriku Main Line. The journey took more than seven hours. The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010.

Rolling stock

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/EF81_149_Hokuriku_Takaoka_20100119.jpg" caption="A down ''Hokuriku'' service at Takaoka Station, hauled by an EF81 locomotive, January 2010"] ::

The train was formed of 14 series sleeping cars based at JR East's Oku Depot in Tokyo, typically consisting of 8 cars. The train was hauled by a JR East Nagaoka-based EF64-1000 DC electric locomotive between Ueno and Nagaoka, where the train reversed, and by a JR East Nagaoka-based EF81 dual-voltage locomotive between Nagaoka and Kanazawa.

After the discontinuation, a number of sleeping cars was sold to the Philippine National Railways.

History

1950: Ueno - Osaka

The Hokuriku name was first used from 2 November 1950 for an overnight express service operating between Ueno and Osaka via Kanazawa. The journey from Ueno to Osaka took 18 hours 45 minutes.

1956: Ueno – Fukui

From the 19 November 1956 timetable revision following the electrification of the Tokaido Main Line, the Hokuriku became an overnight train operating between Ueno and Fukui, taking 12 hours 45 minutes.

1959: Ueno – Kanazawa

From the 22 November 1959 timetable revision, the train was operated between Ueno and Kanazawa, due to declining passenger numbers between Kanazawa and Fukui. The journey took exactly 11 hours.

1968: Ueno – Fukui

From the 1 October 1968 timetable revision, the previous Echizen overnight train operating between Ueno and Kanazawa became a seasonal service extended to operate between Ueno and Fukui and renamed Hokuriku 1. This train consisted mostly of seating accommodation using SuHa43 coaches. The existing Hokuriku service between Ueno and Kanazawa became the Hokuriku 2 service.

1975: Limited Express ''Hokuriku''

From the 10 March 1975 timetable revision, the Hokuriku 1 service was upgraded to become the limited express Hokuriku, operating between Ueno and Kanazawa, with a journey time of 8 hours 47 minutes, and using new 20 series sleeping cars. The Hokuriku 2 service was renamed Noto. The train was upgraded to 14 series stock from 2 October 1978.

2010: Withdrawal

The service was discontinued on 13 March 2010, with the last runs from Kanazawa and Ueno on 12 March 2010.

Preservation

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/SuHaNeFu_14-20_Shimoyoshida_Blue_Train_Terrace_20110710.jpg" caption="SuHaNeFu 14-20 preserved next to Shimoyoshida Station, July 2011"] ::

One car from the formation used on the final run of the Hokuriku from Ueno in March 2010, SuHaNeFu 14-20, is preserved on display next to Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line. It displays a Fuji headboard.

References

References

1. "JR Timetable" December 2008 issue
2. (2008). "JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル". Kōtsū Shimbun.
3. Inoguchi, Makoto. (April 2010). "北陸・能登ものがたり". Kōyūsha.
4. (August 1995). "列車名鑑1995". Railway Journal.
5. (18 December 2009). "平成22年春ダイヤ改正について I". JR West.
6. (10 December 2009). link
7. link. (31 January 2012). Fujikyuko

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