Kaiji (train)

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Kaiji

E257 series EMU on a Kaiji service, January 2008
Overview
Service type Limited express
Status Operational
Locale Honshu, Japan
First service 1 October 1961 (Semi express)
12 December 1966 (Express)
13 March 1988 (Limited express)
Current operator(s) JR East
Former operator(s) JNR
Route
Start Shinjuku
End Kōfu
Line used Chūō Main Line
On-board services
Class(es) Green + Standard
Catering facilities Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock E257 series EMUs
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed 130 km/h (80 mph)[1]

The Kaiji (かいじ) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs mainly between Shinjuku Station in Tokyo and Kōfu Station in Kōfu, Yamanashi via the Chūō Main Line.

Route

Kaiji

Shinjuku - Kōfu (Some trains operate between Tokyo and Ryūō.)

View Kaiji

Chiba - Kōfu - Ryūō

Hamakaiji

Yokohama - Hachiōji - Matsumoto

Rolling stock

Kaiji

From 2016, new EMUs are scheduled to be introduced on Kaiji services, replacing the E257 series trains.[2] The new trains will feature power outlets for passenger use and WiFi internet service.[2]

View Kaiji

Hamakaiji

  • E257 series EMU on a Kaiji service, November 2006

  • 183 series EMU on a Kaiji service, May 2001

  • 189 series EMU on a Hamakaiji service, May 2001

  • 185 series set B4 on a Hamakaiji service, April 2012

Formations

E257 series Kaiji

Most Kaiji (E257 series) services are formed of nine cars, numbered 3 to 11, with car 11 at the Kofu end. Cars 1 and 2 are added to some trains.[1][3]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Numbering KuHa E257 KuHa E257 KuHa E257-100 MoHa E257 MoHa E256 MoHa E257-1000 SaHa E257 SaRoHa E257 MoHa E257-100 MoHa E256-100 KuHa E257
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Green Reserved Reserved Reserved
Facilities Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet Toilet

185 series Hamakaiji

The seasonal Hamakaiji services are formed of 7-car 185 series EMUs based at Tamachi Depot in Tokyo, with car 1 at the Yokohama end.[1]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Numbering KuHa 185-200 MoHa 184-200 MoHa 185-200 SaRo 185-200 MoHa 184-200 MoHa 185-200 KuHa 185-300
Accommodation Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Green Reserved Reserved Reserved

History

Semi-express

The Kaiji service began on 1 October 1961 as a semi express operating between Shinjuku and Kōfu.[4] The name was derived from the old name, Kai (甲斐), of Yamanashi Prefecture.[5] Services were operated using KiHa 58 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains in between duties on long-distance Alps and Hakuba express services.[5] DMUs were used on these services due to the restricted tunnel clearances along the line prohibiting the use of electric trains.[5] The outbound service departed from Shinjuku at 14:50, arriving at Kōfu at 17:19. The return working departed from Kōfu at 18:28, arriving at Shinjuku at 21:20.[5] The Kaiji services were however discontinued and integrated with the Alps express services from the start of the revised timetable on 1 October 1965 when electric trains were introduced.[5]

Express

A 165 series EMU on a special Kaiji express service, July 2003
A 115 series EMU on a special Kaiji express service, October 2012

The Kaiji name was revived from 12 December 1966 for use on express services aimed at business users, operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto using 12-car 165 series EMU formations in between duties on longer-distance Alps services.[5] The early morning up working departed from Matsumoto at 04:50, arriving at Shinjuku at 09:34. The evening down service departed from Shinjuku at 18:55, arriving at Matsumoto at 23:36.[5] From the start of the 1 October 1968 timetable revision, the Shinjuku - Matsumoto service was integrated with the other Alps express services also operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto, and the Kaiji name was used for five new return express services operating between Shinjuku and Kōfu.[5] Due to the seasonal nature of ridership on these services, three of the five return workings were designated as seasonal services, operating only during peak seasons.[5] These services were operated using outer-suburban 115 series EMUs, whereas the two regular services were operated using 165 series express EMUs with first-class accommodation and buffet facilities.[5] In response to the lack of first class accommodation, a 115 series set reformed with a 165 series "SaRo 165" Green car was used on some services.[5] The use of suburban rolling stock on express services requiring payment of a supplement was not popular, however, and the seasonal services were downgraded to "Rapid" services by 1978, leaving just the two regular Kaiji express services using 165 series rolling stock.[5] The remaining Kaiji services were discontinued from the start of the 1 November 1986 timetable following the introduction of new Azusa limited express services.[5]

Limited express

From 13 March 1988, five of the Azusa limited express services operating between Shinjuku and Kōfu were expanded to nine return workings daily and renamed Kaiji.[5] Initially operated using 6-car 183 series EMUs, all Kaiji services were operated using 9-car sets from the start of the December 1993 timetable revision.[5] These were lengthened to 11-car sets from October 1997.[5]

Smoking was prohibited in all cars from 18 March 2007.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 70. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ＪＲ東日本　富士山観光見込み、中央線特急に新型車両" [JR East to introduce new trains on Chuo Line limited express services, eying Mt Fuji tourism]. Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Japan: Sports Nippon Newspapers. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 JR電車編成表 2012夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2012]. Japan: JRR. May 2012. p. 103. ISBN 978-4-330-28612-9. 
  4. ↑ 列車名鑑1995 (Train Name Directory 1995). Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 Teramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 158-159. ISBN 4-88732-093-0. 

External links

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Shinkansen
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Express
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