Hikari (train)
700 series Hikari Rail Star, April 2009
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Shinkansen |
| Locale | Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen |
| First service | 25 April 1958 (Express) 1 October 1964 (Shinkansen) |
| Current operator(s) | JR Central, JR West |
| Former operator(s) | JNR |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Green + Standard |
| Catering facilities | Trolley refreshment service |
| Technical | |
| 700/N700 series | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz |
| Operating speed | 270 km/h (Tōkaidō) 300 km/h (Sanyō) |
Hikari (ひかり?, "Light") is the name of a high-speed train service running on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen "bullet train" lines in Japan. Slower than the premier Nozomi but faster than the all-stations Kodama, the Hikari is the fastest train service on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen that is covered in the Japan Rail Pass.
These services first appeared in 1988 on the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata using 6-car 0 series trains. 0 series 12-car SK units were employed on these services from 1989. From 11 March 2000, they were mostly replaced by the new 700 series Hikari Rail Star services, and were finally withdrawn on 21 April 2000.
These were the premier services operated between Tokyo and Hakata from 11 March 1989 using JR West 16-car 100 series V sets with four double-deck centre cars including a restaurant car. These operated at a maximum speed of 230 km/h on the Sanyo Shinkansen (compared to 220 km/h for other Hikari services). From 11 March 2000, restaurant car services were discontinued on all trains, and from May 2002 onwards, the few remaining Grand Hikari services were limited to the Sanyo Shinkansen only. The last Grand Hikari ran in November 2002.
First appearing in the summer of 1995, these seasonal services operated between Shin-Osaka and Hakata during holiday periods using special 6-car 0 series sets (R2 and R24) which included a children's play area in car 3. All seats were reserved on these services.
JR West began operating the Hikari Rail Star service from the start of the new timetable on 11 March 2000. This service is limited to the Sanyo Shinkansen, and uses special 8-car 700 series trains with a distinctive livery and a maximum speed of 285 km/h. JR West introduced the service to provide better competition against airlines on the Osaka-Fukuoka route. These services do not have Green car accommodation, but the reserved seating cars feature 2+2 seating and also some 4-seat compartments instead of the standard 3+2 arrangement in non-reserved seating cars. The front row of seats in these cars feature power outlets for laptop users. With the transformation of most Hikari Rail Star services into Sakura from 2011, the 8-car 700 Series Shinkansen trains used on the service have been running mostly on Kodama services.
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Wikipedia