Hikari (Shinkansen)

is the name of a high-speed train service running on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen "bullet train" lines in Japan. Slower than the premier '' Nozomi'' but faster than the all-stations '' Kodama'', the ''Hikari'' is the fastest train service on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen that can be used with the Japan Rail Pass, which is not valid for travel on the ''Nozomi'' or ''Mizuho'' trains except through a special supplementary ticket.

Service variations

''West Hikari''

These JR West services first appeared in 1988 on the San'yō Shinkansen between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata using 6-car 0 series trains. 0 series 12-car S_K units were employed on these services from 1989. From 11 March 2000, they were mostly replaced by the new 700 series ''Hikari Rail Star'' services, and were finally withdrawn on 21 April 2000. The ''West Hikari'' livery had a similar colour pattern to the newer 100 series rolling stock, most of which were allocated to JR Central when the Japanese National Railways (JNR) was privatised in 1987. The interior was refurbished, with the conventional 2+3 seat configuration changed to a 2+2 configuration, and the buffet car converted into a café car.

''Grand Hikari''

These were the premier services operated between Tokyo and Hakata from 11 March 1989 using JR West 16-car 100 series V sets with four double-deck centre cars including a restaurant car. JR West inherited no 100 series train sets when JNR was privatised. On the other hand, unlike the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the San'yō Shinkansen had a severe competition with aeroplanes, and there was an imminent need to introduce a faster and more comfortable flagship train.

The 100 series V sets were designed to be operated at , but due to noise complaints, JR West had to reduce its maximum speed to on the San'yō Shinkansen (compared to for other ''Hikari'' services). From 11 March 2000, restaurant car services were discontinued on all trains, and from May 2002 onwards, the few remaining ''Grand Hikari'' services were limited to the San'yō Shinkansen only. The last ''Grand Hikari'' ran in November 2002.

''Family Hikari''

First appearing in the summer of 1995, these seasonal services operated between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata during holiday periods using special 6-car 0 series sets (R2 and R24) which included a children's play area in car 3. All seats were reserved on these services.

''Hikari Rail Star''

JR West began operating the ''Hikari Rail Star'' service from the start of the new timetable on 11 March 2000. This service is limited to the Sanyo Shinkansen line, and uses special 8-car 700-7000 series trains with a distinctive livery and a maximum speed of . JR West introduced the service to provide better competition against airlines on the Osaka-Fukuoka route. These services do not have Green car accommodation, but the reserved seating cars feature 2+2 seating and also some 4-seat compartments instead of the standard 3+2 arrangement in non-reserved seating cars. The front row of seats in these cars feature power outlets for laptop users. With all but 3 ''Hikari'' services (590-592) solely running on the Sanyo Shinkansen being replaced by through Kyushu Shinkansen ''Sakura'' services from 12 March 2011, the 8-car 700 series sets used on the service have been running mostly on all-stations '' Kodama'' services on the San'yō Shinkansen line. However, as of 17 March 2023, there is still one ''Hikari Rail Star'' service, ''Hikari'' 590, which departs from Shin-Shimonoseki to Okayama at 06:11 every morning, stopping at all stations except Asa. As of June 2025, the ''Hikari Rail Star'' is the only special service variation to run on the ''Hikari'' service.

Stopping patterns (as of June 2024)

Legend

Rolling stock

* 500 series 8-car V sets (''not in regular use'')
* 700 series 8-car E sets
* N700A series 16-car X/K sets, modified from N700 series Z/N sets
* N700 series 8-car S/R sets
* N700S series 16-car J sets

File:JRwest 500 hikari 441 shinkurashiki.jpg, JR West 500 series, May 2012
File:JRW-700-hikari-railstar.jpg, 700 series ''Hikari Rail Star'', April 2009
File:JRW N700 series N3.jpg, JR West N700 series, April 2009

Former rolling stock

* 0 series
* 100 series
* 300 series
* 500 series 16-car W sets (''not in regular use'')
* 700 series 16-car B/C sets

File:JR tokai shinkansen 0kei.jpg, 0 series, 1987
File:JR tokai shinkansen 100kei.jpg, 100 Series, 1987
File:JRW Shinkansen Series 300 F6.jpg, JR West 300 series, 8 October 2008
File:JRW-500-nozomi.jpg, JR West 500 series, May 2008
File:JRC_700_series_C37.jpg, JR Central 700 series, April 2009

Train formations

N700 series / N700S series (16 cars)

16-car N700 and N700S series services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 16 at the Tokyo end. All cars are non-smoking except for smoking compartments located in Cars 3, 7, 10, and 15.JR Timetable, March 2012 issue, p. 997

N700 series (8 cars)

8-car N700 series services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 8 at the Shin-Osaka end. All cars are non-smoking except for smoking compartments located in Cars 3 and 7.

700 series ''Hikari Rail Star''

8-car 700 series ''Hikari Rail Star'' services are formed as follows with car 1 at the Hakata end and car 8 at the Shin-Osaka end. All cars are non-smoking.

History

Before and during World War II, ''Hikari'' was the name of an express train operated by Japan from Busan in Korea to Changchun in Manchuria.

The name ''Hikari'' was first introduced in Japan on 25 April 1958 for express services operating between Hakata and Beppu in Kyushu. This service operated until 30 September 1964, the day before the Tokaido Shinkansen opened."列車名鑑1995" (Train Name Directory 1995), published August 1995 by Railway Journal

When the Tokaido Shinkansen opened on 1 October 1964, the ''Hikari'' was the fastest train on the line, initially travelling from Tokyo Station to Shin-Osaka Station with only two stops (Nagoya and Kyoto). ''Hikari'' service was extended to the Sanyo Shinkansen later, although the ''Hikari'' trains were only slightly faster than the ''Kodama'' trains, earning them the derisive portmanteau nickname "Hidama." The Hikari trains remained the fastest trains until the opening of ''Nozomi'' trains on 14 March 1992.

In March 2008, the new N700 Series Shinkansen was put into service on a morning ''Hikari'' service between Shin-Yokohama and Hiroshima stations, and a late night run between Tokyo and Nagoya. A third N700 ''Hikari'' run between Nagoya and Tokyo was added in October 2008, and a few other N700 ''Hikari'' runs have since been added.

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, ''Hikari Rail Star'' services using 700 series 8-car E sets became entirely no-smoking.

As of 2012, JR Central ''Hikari'' services operating throughout the Tokaido/Sanyo corridor primarily use 16-car N700 series and 700 series sets. Most ''Hikari'' trains pull over at intermediate stations such as Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Maibara or Himeji to allow faster ''Nozomi'' services, to pass through without stopping.

In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains would be discontinued by Q2 2024, which took effect on 16 March 2024. In addition, all smoking rooms located on station platforms on the aforementioned Shinkansen lines would also be discontinued.

See also

* List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

External links

Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Hikari Rail Star description

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hikari (Train)
Railway services introduced in 1958
Central Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
Named Shinkansen trains