Hamanasu (train)
A Hamanasu service at Sapporo Station in January 2005
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|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Express |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Japan |
| First service |
|
| Last service | March 2016 |
| Former operator(s) | |
| Route | |
| Start | Aomori |
| End | Sapporo |
| Distance travelled | Approx. 480 km |
| Average journey time | Approx. 7 hours 30 minutes |
| Service frequency | 1 return service daily |
| On-board services | |
| Seating arrangements | 2+2 reclining seating |
| Sleeping arrangements | Compartments/carpeted floor accommodation |
| Catering facilities | None |
| Technical | |
| 14/24 series coaches | |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 20 kV AC / diesel |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
The Hamanasu (はまなす?) was an overnight express train service in Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), which ran from Aomori to Sapporo via the Tsugaru Line, Kaikyō Line, Esashi Line, Hakodate Main Line, Muroran Main Line, and Chitose Line. The journey took approximately seven and a half hours. Following the withdrawal of the Ginga overnight express service between Tokyo and Osaka in 2008, the Hamanasu became the only locomotive-hauled express service in Japan. The service was discontinued in March 2016.
The train was formed of 14 and 24 series seating cars and sleeping cars based at JR Hokkaido's Sapporo Depot, typically consisting of 7 cars. The train was hauled by a JR Hokkaido Hakodate-based ED79 AC electric locomotive between Aomori and Hakodate, and by a Hakodate-based DD51 diesel locomotive between Hakodate and Sapporo.
The typical formation in 2010 was as follows.
The "Dream cars" used reclining seats from former Green cars.
Sleeping car interior, January 2009
"Nobinobi Carpet" car interior, July 2004
"Nobinobi Carpet" car interior (upper level)
Reserved seating
Non-reserved seating
The Hamanasu was introduced on 1 June 1955 as a semi-express operating between Hakodate and Abashiri via Sapporo. From 1 October 1961, this was upgraded to Express status as a service operating between Sapporo and Abashiri. This operated until 30 September 1968, when the services were integrated with the Taisetsu (大雪?) express services.
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