Kitaguni
A 583 series EMU train on a Kitaguni express, August 2010
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|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Express |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Japan |
| First service | 1 October 1961 |
| Last service | January 2013 |
| Current operator(s) | JR West |
| Former operator(s) | JNR |
| Route | |
| Start | Osaka |
| End | Niigata |
| Average journey time | 8-9 hours |
| Technical | |
| 583 series EMUs | |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC, 20 kV AC |
The Kitaguni (きたぐに?) 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 Niigata and Osaka, taking approximately nine hours northbound and eight hours southbound. Reduced to seasonal operations in March 2012, the service was officially discontinued in January 2013.
The Kitaguni ran on the following lines:
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 Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Maibara, Tsuruga, Fukui, Kanazawa, Toyama, Naoetsu, and Nagaoka.
The Kitaguni used dedicated 581/583 series EMU trains consisting of reserved accommodation only.
The interior of a Saro 581 Green seating car in 2010
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.
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