Kitaguni
Former overnight train service (1961–2013)
title: "Kitaguni" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "night-trains-of-japan", "west-japan-railway-company", "railway-services-introduced-in-1961", "railway-services-discontinued-in-2013", "2013-disestablishments-in-japan", "1961-establishments-in-japan"] description: "Former overnight train service (1961–2013)" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaguni" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Former overnight train service (1961–2013) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Kitaguni |
| image | JRW EC 583 series B5.jpg |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | A 583 series EMU train on a Kitaguni express in August 2010 |
| type | Express |
| status | Discontinued |
| locale | Japan |
| first | 1 October 1961 |
| last | January 2013 |
| operator | JR West |
| formeroperator | JNR |
| start | |
| end | |
| journeytime | 8-9 hours |
| stock | 583 series EMUs |
| gauge | |
| el | 1,500 V DC, 20 kV AC |
| :: |
| name = Kitaguni | image = JRW EC 583 series B5.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = A 583 series EMU train on a Kitaguni express in August 2010 | type = Express | status = Discontinued | locale = Japan | predecessor = | first = 1 October 1961 | last = January 2013 | successor = | operator = JR West | formeroperator = JNR | start = | stops = | end = | distance = | journeytime = 8-9 hours | frequency = | trainnumber = | line_used = | class = | access = | seating = | sleeping = | catering = | entertainment = | baggage = | stock = 583 series EMUs | gauge = | el = 1,500 V DC, 20 kV AC | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state =
The Kitaguni was an overnight train service that operated in Japan from October 1961 until January 2013. Operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), it ran between and , taking approximately nine hours northbound and eight hours southbound. Reduced to seasonal operations in March 2012, the service was officially discontinued in January 2013.
Route
The Kitaguni ran on the following lines:
- Kyoto Line (Tōkaidō Main Line): Osaka - Kyoto
- Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line/Hokuriku Line): Kyoto - Nagahama
- Hokuriku Line: Nagahama - Naoetsu
- Shinetsu Line: Naoetsu - Niigata
Service pattern
The southbound train originated at Niigata Station at 22:55, arriving in Osaka at 06:49.
The northbound service left Osaka at 23:27, terminating at Niitsu Station at 08:10. It then continued as a local train for the final 15-minutes to Niigata.
Major stops along the Kitaguni route included , Kyoto, Maibara, Tsuruga, Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama, , , and
Rolling stock
The Kitaguni used dedicated 581/583 series EMU trains consisting of reserved accommodation only.
File:West Japan Railway Company(JR WEST) Night Train Express "KITAGUNI" 4.JPG|The interior of a Saro 581 Green seating car in 2010
Fares
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Kitaguni_Green_Car_reserved_seat_ticket.png" caption="''Kitaguni'' Green Car reserved seat ticket"] ::
A flat fee was charged for type "A" and "B" reserved sleeping car accommodation, regardless of starting or ending location, while Green Car (first class) reserved accommodation rates were based on distance. In the final days of the train's operations, accommodation rates ranged from about ¥6,000 for a type "B" berth to about ¥10,000 for a type "A" berth. A Green Car seat covering the entire distance from Osaka to Niigata cost ¥5,150.
The other fares, the basic fare and express fare, were based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare did not have to be paid.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fd/JRwest_583_kitaguni_1994.jpg" caption="A 583 series ''Kitaguni'' service in 1994"] ::
The Kitaguni service first ran on 1 October 1961, as an express between Kanazawa and Niigata. From 1 October 1968, the service was extended to operate between Osaka and Aomori.
From the start of the 17 March 2012 timetable revision, regular operations of the Kitaguni were discontinued, with services operating during busy seasonal periods only.
On 31 January 2013, JR West announced that the Kitaguni service had been formally discontinued following the seasonal runs over the New Year period.
References
References
- (August 1995). "列車名鑑1995". Railway Journal.
- link. (16 December 2011). East Japan Railway Company
- link. (31 January 2013). MSN Sankei West. The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital
::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. ::