Cassiopeia (train)
Cassiopeia hauled by EF510-509, August 2010
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Locale | Japan |
| First service | July 1999 |
| Current operator(s) | JR East |
| Route | |
| Start | Ueno |
| End | Sapporo |
| On-board services | |
| Seating arrangements | Lounge car |
| Sleeping arrangements | Compartments and suites |
| Catering facilities | Dining car |
| Observation facilities | Observation lounge at end of train |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | E26 series sleeping cars |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50Hz) |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h (70 mph) |
The Cassiopeia (カシオペア Kashiopea?) is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since July 1999. 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.
Northbound trains to Sapporo depart from Ueno after 16:00, and call at Ōmiya, Utsunomiya, Kōriyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinoseki, and Morioka. The first stop in Hokkaido is at Hakodate at 05:00 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo around 09:30. Southbound trains to Ueno depart from Sapporo after 16:00; the first stop after leaving Hokkaido is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day, and the arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.[1]
Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods.
Contents
Route
The Cassiopeia runs on the following rail lines:
JR East
- Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
IGR Iwate Ginga Railway
- Iwate Galaxy 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.
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.[2] Prior to June 2010, the services were hauled by JR East Class EF81 dual-voltage electric locomotives.[3]
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 |
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.
History
From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, smoking was banned in the restaurant car of Cassiopeia services.[4]
Withdrawal plans
Following the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen in March 2016, regular Cassiopeia services are scheduled to be discontinued, although the coaches may be used on cruise train services to other areas.[5]
See also
- List of named passenger trains of Japan
- Hokutosei, another night train that ran between Tokyo and Sapporo until August 2015
- Seven Stars in Kyushu, a luxury sleeping car train operated by JR Kyushu
- Twilight Express Mizukaze, a luxury sleeping car excursion train planned by JR West in Japan
References
- JR Timetable, March 2008 issue
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External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cassiopeia. |
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Mass transit in Hokkaido
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 JR Hokkaido lines |
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| JR named trains | |
| Other railways | |
 Sapporo Municipal Subway |
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| Public Ferries |
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| Miscellaneous |
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Named trains of East Japan Railway Company
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| Shinkansen |
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| Limited express (daytime) |
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| Limited express (overnight) |
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| Rapid | ||
| Liner | ||
| Local | ||
- Use dmy dates from July 2013
- Articles that mention track gauge 1067 mm
- Articles containing Japanese-language text
- Pages with broken file links
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- East Japan Railway Company
- Named passenger trains of Japan
- Hokkaido Railway Company
- Night trains of Japan
- Railway services introduced in 1999
