Dinostar
A 683 series trainset on a Dinostar service, December 2020
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusOperational
LocaleJapan
First service14 March 2015
Last serviceMarch 2024 (scheduled)[1]
Current operator(s)JR West
Route
TerminiFukui
Kanazawa
Service frequency3 return services daily
Line(s) usedHokuriku Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)Ordinary + Green
Technical
Rolling stock681 series, 683 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Dinostar (ダイナスター, Dainasutā) is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Fukui and Kanazawa in Japan via the Hokuriku Main Line since 14 March 2015.

Service outline

Three return services operate daily between Fukui and Kanazawa, supplementing the existing Thunderbird services truncated with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa on 14 March 2015.[2]

The name is a portmanteau derived from the English words "dinosaur" for which Fukui is famous and "star".[2]

Rolling stock

The services use the 681 series and 683 series EMUs used on Thunderbird services.[3]

Formations

Trains are normally formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa (eastern) end. All cars are no-smoking.[4]

Car No.123456
Accommodation GreenReservedReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

From the start of the revised timetable introduced on 26 March 2016, some services (Dinostar 1 and 6) will operate as three-car formations with no Green car.[5]

History

The name of the new train services was officially announced by JR West's Kanazawa Division on 7 October 2014.[3]

Future plans

From the start of the revised timetable that will take place on 16 March 2024, all Dinostar services are scheduled to be discontinued with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "JR西日本、北陸本線「ダイナスター」など朝・夜の特急列車が廃止に" [JR West will abolish morning and evening limited express trains such as "Dynastar" on the Hokuriku Main Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 3 September 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 北陸新幹線開業で金沢駅発着の特急「ダイナスター」「能登かがり火」誕生! [New "Dinostar" and "Noto Kagaribi" limited expresses from Kanazawa with opening of Hokuriku Shinkansen]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 北陸の新特急「能登かがり火」「ダイナスター」　ＪＲ西 [New "Dinostar" and "Noto Kagaribi" Hokuriku limited expresses]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  4. ↑ JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. February 2015. EAN 4910053110259.
  5. ↑ 改正ニュース [Revision news]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45, no. 382. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. February 2016. p. 96.
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