Hokuetsu services were normally formed of 6-car 485 series (sets T12–16) or refurbished 485-3000 series electric multiple unit EMU trainsets (sets R21–28), based at Niigata Depot.[2]
Original "bonnet-style" 485 series EMU, 1982
JNR-liveried 485 series EMU, August 2010
485 series in revised livery, September 2010
485-3000 series set R-26, July 2013
Formations
The six-car 485 series sets were formed with car 1 at the Kanazawa end and car 6 at the Niigata end.[2] All cars are no smoking.[3]
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Numbering
KuRoHa 481
MoHa 484
MoHa 485
MoHa 484
MoHa 485
KuHa 481
Accommodation
Green
Reserved
Reserved
Reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
Non-reserved
The 485 series sets had toilets in each car, while 485-3000 series sets had toilets in 1, 2, 4, and 6 only.[2]
History
The Hokuetsu was first introduced from 1 March 1970 as a limited express operating between Osaka and Niigata.[4] From 2 October 1978, the operating route was shortened to Kanazawa to Niigata.[5]
JR staff holding a "Thank you" banner on the platform at Kanazawa Station prior to the departure of the final Hokuetsu service to Niigata on 13 March 2015
Hokuetsu services were discontinued from the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa.[6]
^ abcJR電車編成表 2014夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2014]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 May 2014. pp. 34–35. ISBN978-4-330-46614-9.
^JR Timetable. Kotsu Shimbunsha. March 2014. p. 976. EAN4910053110341.
^Teramoto, Mitsuteru (23 July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 513–514. ISBN4-88732-093-0.
^列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 129.
^北陸新幹線開業で２つの特急廃止 [2 limited express services scrapped with opening of Hokuriku Shinkansen]. NHK News (in Japanese). Japan. 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
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