Thunderbird (train)
Japanese limited express train service
title: "Thunderbird (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "railway-services-introduced-in-1995", "west-japan-railway-company", "kosei-line"] description: "Japanese limited express train service" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbird_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese limited express train service ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Thunderbird |
| image | JRW Series683-4000R.jpg |
| caption | A refurbished JR-West 683-4000 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022 |
| type | Limited express |
| status | Operational |
| locale | Japan |
| first | 1995 |
| operator | JR West |
| line_used | Tokaido Line (JR Kyoto Line), Kosei Line |
| otherfacilities | Universal Toilets |
| stock | 681 series, 683 series |
| gauge | |
| :: |
| name = Thunderbird | logo = | logo_width = | image = JRW Series683-4000R.jpg | image_width = | caption = A refurbished JR-West 683-4000 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022 | type = Limited express | status = Operational | locale = Japan | predecessor = | first = 1995 | last = | successor = | operator = JR West | start = | stops = | end = | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = | line_used = Tokaido Line (JR Kyoto Line), Kosei Line | class = | access = | seating = | catering = | observation = | entertainment = | baggage = | otherfacilities =Universal Toilets | stock = 681 series, 683 series | gauge = | el = | speed = | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state =
The Thunderbird is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and in Japan, using portions of the Tokaido Main Line and Kosei Line.
Station stops
Stations in parentheses are not served by all services.
''Thunderbird''
Osaka – Tsuruga: - - () - - () - () -
''Business Thunderbird''
(an extra train which runs from Osaka to Tsuruga in the morning on weekdays after holidays)
Osaka → Shin-Osaka → Kyoto → Tsuruga
Rolling stock
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/JRW_Series681-0_V12.jpg" caption="A JR-West 681 series train on a ''Thunderbird'' service in April 2022"] ::
- 681 series EMUs (since April 1995)
- 683 series EMUs (since March 2001)
Formations
Services are formed as follows:
''Thunderbird''
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | ||
| :: |
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | ||
| :: |
''Business Thunderbird''
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | ||
| :: |
History
From the start of the 20 April 1995 timetable revision, new 681 series EMUs were introduced on Osaka to Toyama services, named Super Raichō (Thunderbird). These became simply Thunderbird from March 1997.
The last remaining Raichō service was discontinued from the start of the 12 March 2011 timetable revision, with all trains subsequently using the Thunderbird name.
From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, all Thunderbird services were shortened for the first time to run between Osaka, Kanazawa and Wakura-Onsen.
From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2024, all Thunderbird services were shortened for the second time to run between Osaka and Tsuruga with the opening of the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Kanazawa and Tsuruga. With effect from the same date, all non-reserved seating was discontinued on all Thunderbird services.
Incidents
On 3 August 2006, a woman was raped by a 36-year-old man in a train toilet while travelling on the Thunderbird 50 service (just after Fukui Station), despite the car being occupied by approximately 40 other passengers. As a result, JR West introduced a "women-only" section in the reserved-seating cars of Raichō and Thunderbird trains from October 2007, and JR East added prominent "SOS" stickers inside all of its trains in June 2007. On 17 January 2008, the district court in Otsu sentenced the man to 18 years in prison.
Future developments
All of the 681 and 683 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018.
References
References
- Railway Journal. (August 1995)
- link. (17 December 2010). Yahoo Japan Corporation
- {{Cite press release. link. West Japan Railway Company. (2014-08-27)
- (31 August 2023). "金沢―敦賀間の特急サンダーバード、しらさぎ廃止を発表 JR西日本、敦賀駅で乗り換え必要に".
- (15 December 2023). "JR西日本，3月16日にダイヤ改正を実施 〜北陸新幹線 金沢—敦賀間が延伸開業〜".
- (2 May 2007). "Train rapist took advantage of passengers' apathy, fear in night of terror". Japan Today.
- (24 May 2007). "'SOS' stickers going up in every JR East car". The Japan Times Ltd..
- (18 January 2008). "Train rapist who cowed passengers gets 18 years". The Japan Times Ltd..
- link. (28 January 2015). Tetsudo Shimbun
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