373 series EMU on a Tōkai service, March 2006
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Overview | |
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Service type | Limited express (from 1996) |
First service | 1955 (Semi express) 1996 (Limited express Wide View Tōkai) |
Last service | 2007 |
Current operator(s) |
JR East (Tokyo–Atami) JR Central (Atami–Shizuoka) |
Route | |
Line used | Tōkaidō Main Line |
Technical | |
373 series (1996–2007) |
The Tōkai (東海?) was a limited express service which connected Tokyo Station and Shizuoka Station in Japan. The service was discontinued in March 2007 due to declining passenger numbers.
Tokyo - Shinagawa - Kawasaki - Yokohama - Ōfuna - Hiratsuka - Odawara - Yugawara - Atami - Mishima - Numazu - Fuji - Shimizu - Shizuoka
A 153 series EMU in 1982
165 series EMU on a Tōkai express service in 1986
The Tōkai service was first introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 20 July 1955 as a locomotive-hauled semi express train operating between Tokyo and Nagoya. The train was upgraded to "express" status from 5 March 1966. From 16 March 1996, the service was upgraded to become the limited express Wide View Tōkai using pairs of new 373 series 3-car EMU trainsets, with two return workings daily between Tokyo and Shizuoka.