Cassiopeia (train)
| Cassiopeia | |
 |
|
|---|---|
| Cassiopeia hauled by EF510-509, August 2010 | |
| Service type | Limited express |
| Operator | JR East |
| Maximum speed | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
| Started | 1999 |
| Rolling stock | E26 series sleeping cars |
The Cassiopeia (カシオペア) is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.
Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at Ōmiya, Utsunomiya, Kōriyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinoseki, and Morioka. The first stop in Hokkaido is at Hakodate between 04:00 and 04:30 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo just before nine.
On the return trip from Sapporo, the first stop after leaving Hokkaido is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day. The arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.
Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods.
Contents |
[edit] Route
The Cassiopeia runs on the following rail lines:
JR East
- Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
IGR Iwate Ginga Railway
- Iwate Ginga Railway Line, Morioka - Metoki
Aoimori Railway
- Aoimori Railway Line, Metoki - Aomori
JR East
- Tsugaru Line, Aomori - Naka-Oguni
JR Hokkaido
- Kaikyō Line, Naka-Oguni - Kikonai
- Esashi Line, Kikonai - Goryōkaku
- Hakodate Main Line, Goryōkaku - Hakodate - Oshamambe
- Muroran Main Line, Oshamambe - Numanohata
- Chitose Line, Numanohata - Shiroishi
- Hakodate Main Line, Shiroishi - Sapporo
The train changes direction at Aomori and Hakodate.
[edit] Rolling stock
The train is formed of twelve E26 series sleeping cars, including a lounge car at the Sapporo end and a deluxe suite at the Ueno end. The train is hauled by a JR East Tabata-based Class EF510-500 dual-voltage electric locomotive between Ueno and Aomori, by a JR Hokkaido ED79 AC electric locomotive between Aomori and Hakodate, and by a pair of JR Hokkaido DD51 diesel locomotives between Hakodate and Sapporo.[1] Prior to June 2010, the services were hauled by JR East Class EF81 dual-voltage electric locomotives.[2]
[edit] Formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SuRoNeFu E26 | SuRoNe E26 | MaShi E26 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | KaHaFu E26 |
| Cassiopeia Suite | Cassiopeia Suite / Cassiopeia Deluxe | Dining car | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin / Mini lobby | Cassiopeia Twin / Shower room | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin / Mini lobby | Cassiopeia Twin / Shower room | Cassiopeia Twin | Lounge Car/ Generator |
[edit] Accommodation and fares
The Cassiopeia consists of all type "A" accommodation, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥27,000 for a Cassiopeia Twin room to ¥51,000 for a Cassiopeia Suite.
The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥5,500 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways between Morioka and Aomori.
[edit] History
From the start of the revised timetable on March 17, 2012, smoking will be banned in the restaurant car of Cassiopeia services.[3]
[edit] References
- JR Timetable, March 2008 issue
- ^ JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. p.130. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
- ^ "EF510 500番代による〈カシオペア〉牽引開始 [Start of EF510-500 haulage for Cassiopeia services]" (in Japanese). Hobidas. Neko Publishing. 25 June 2010. http://rail.hobidas.com/rmn/archives/2010/06/jref510_500.html. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
- ^ "２０１２年３月ダイヤ改正について [March 2012 Timetable Revision]" (in Japanese) (pdf). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 16 December 2011. http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2011/20111211.pdf. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
[edit] External links
Media related to Cassiopeia at Wikimedia Commons
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