 A 253-1000 series EMU on aNikko service in June 2017 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Locale | Yamanote Freight Line,Tohoku Main Line,Tobu Nikko Line |
| First service | 1956 (Semi express) 1963 (Express) 2006 (Limited express) |
| Current operator | JR East/Tobu Railway |
| Former operator | JNR |
| Route | |
| Termini | Shinjuku Tōbu Nikkō |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | 253-1000 series,Tobu 100 series EMUs |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph)[1] |
TheNikkō (日光) andSpacia Nikkō (スペーシア日光) arelimited express train services in Japan operated jointly by theEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) andTobu Railway betweenShinjuku in Tokyo andTōbu Nikkō inTochigi Prefecture.[1]
Nikkō andSpacia Nikkō services stop at the following stations.[2]
Since 4 June 2011, services are formed of refurbished253-1000 series 6-car EMU sets.[3]Tobu 100 seriesSpacia EMUs may also be substituted on these services, in which case they are namedSpacia Nikkō.[1] Prior to 4 June 2011, JR East services were formed of a dedicated 6-car485 series EMU set, which was occasionally substituted by a reserve189 series set nicknamedAyano (彩野).[1]
TheNikkō service began as a semi-express service betweenUeno in Tokyo andNikkō from 10 October 1956 using KiHa 44800 series DMUs. Following electrification of the line, new157 series EMUs were introduced from 22 September 1959. These ran as 6-car sets, lengthened to 8 cars during busy seasons. The 157 series sets were subsequently fitted with air-conditioning and transferred toTokaido Main Line duties.[4]
From 1 April 1961, the seasonalIdeyu semi express services that operated between Tokyo andItō were extended to form new seasonalShōnan Nikkō services operating between Itō and Nikkō. These were formed of 6-car 157 series sets based at Tamachi Depot in Tokyo.[5] The 157 series EMUs on these services were replaced by 165 series from 25 March 1963.[5] From the October 1968 timetable revision, the services were cut back to a single Nikkō to Itō working, and from 1 October 1970, this service was discontinued, replaced by theIzu 56 working from Tokyo to Itō.[6]
The trains were formed as shown below.[5]
| Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | KuMoHa 157 | MoHa 156 | SaRo 157 | SaHa 157 | MoHa 156 | KuMoHa 157 |
From 25 March 1963, the service was upgraded to "Express" status with the introduction of new165 series EMUs, running as 7-car formations with the inclusion of a "SaRo" Green (first class) car.[4] This service operated until 14 October 1982, made redundant by the opening of theTohoku Shinkansen.[7]
The name was subsequently revived from 18 March 2006 as a limited express service operated jointly by JR East and Tobu betweenShinjuku andTōbu Nikkō, utilizing a newly constructed link between the two railways' tracks atKurihashi Station, where trains stop briefly for a crew change.[1]
From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013,Nikkō services also stop atUrawa Station.
Named trains ofEast Japan Railway Company | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | .svg){kind=logo} | |
| Limited express (daytime) | ||
| Rapid | ||
| Local | ||
| Excursion | ||
| Discontinued Shinkansen | ||
| Discontinued Limited express (Daytime) | ||
| Discontinued Limited express (overnight) | ||
| Discontinued Express | ||
| Discontinued Rapid | ||
| Discontinued Liner |
| |
| Discontinued Excursion | ||