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Hapi-Line Fukui

Third-sector Japanese railway company From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hapi-Line Fukui (株式会社ハピラインふくい, Kabushiki-gaisha Hapirain Fukui) is a Japanese third-sector railway company established in 2019 that operates passenger railway services on the section of the former JR West Hokuriku Main Line that lay within Fukui Prefecture. This section of the Hokuriku Main Line was separated from the JR West network on 16 March 2024, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, and Hapi-Line Fukui trains began operation on that day.[1][2]

Native name
ハピラインふくい
TypeThird sector
GenreRail transport
Founded13 August 2019
Quick facts Native name, Type ...
Hapi-Line Fukui
Native name
ハピラインふくい
TypeThird sector
GenreRail transport
Founded13 August 2019
Headquarters
Fukui, Fukui
,
Japan
Area served
Fukui Prefecture
ServicesPassenger railway
WebsiteOfficial website
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History

In preparation for the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension between Kanazawa and Tsuruga stations,[3] the company was founded on 13 August 2019 to inherit the parallel section between Tsuruga and Daishōji stations on the Hokuriku Main Line. Its headquarters are located in the city of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture.[4][5]

Shares in the company are owned by Fukui Prefecture, the cities of Fukui and Tsuruga, the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, and private-sector businesses.[6]

Hapi-Line Fukui paid JR West ¥7 billion (US$63.78 million) to purchase the station buildings, tracks, and rolling stock. At this time, the company announced an expected annual income of ¥1.8 billion, primarily from passenger fares. As of April 2024, 75% of Hapi-Line Fukui's income comes from commuter passes, including student passes. JR Freight continue to pays the company track usage fees for over 30 freight trains per day. Long-term, the company aims for a stable annual revenue of ¥4 billion.[7]

Along with the takeover from JR, Hapi-Line Fukui introduced rapid trains, and increased the number of trains running on the line from 102 to 132.[7]

The company has collaborated with other railways in the prefecture, namely Echizen Railway and Fukui Railway (Fukutetsu), to consolidate purchasing and construction contracts, saving an estimated 5% .[7]

Hapi-Line Fukui Line

Quick facts Overview, Native name ...
Hapi-Line Fukui Line
Overview
Native nameハピラインふくい線
OwnerHapi-Line Fukui
LocaleFukui Prefecture, Ishikawa Prefecture
Termini
Stations21 (including freight stations)
Service
TypeRegional rail
OperatorHapi-Line Fukui
Rolling stock521 series EMUs
History
Opened
  • 1 November 1898 (as Hokuriku Main Line)
  • 16 March 2024 (as Hapi-Line Fukui Line)
Technical
Line length84.3 km (52.4 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification20 kV AC (60 Hz)
Route map

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Legend
 JR West Hokuriku Main Line
 JR West Obama Line
Hakusan Rail Yard Tsuruga Branch
 JR West Limited Express Platforms
 Hokuriku Shinkansen
 Toyobo
0.0
0.0*#
 Tsuruga
Tsuruga
Until 1909
　
3.9#
 Tsuruga New Port
　
2.7#
 Tsuruga Port
　
2.3*
 Miyama (Signal Box)
↑ 1500 V DC
Current conversion
↓ 20 kV AC
　
5.9*
 Shimbo
　
9.3*
 Habara (Signal Box)
 Habara Tunnel
 Hokuriku Tunnel
 Shin-Hokuriku Tunnel
　
12.9*
 Suizu
　
17.8*
 Yamanaka (Signal Box)
　
21.1*
 Ōgiri
16.6
 Minami-Imajō
 Imajō Tunnel
19.2
26.4*
 Imajō
Yunoo Tunnel
22.8
 Yunoo
26.3
 Nanjō
30.8
 Ōshio
 Hokuriku Shinkansen
33.3
 Shikibu
35.1
 Takefu
Left: Shatakefu
Fukui Railway (Takefu-shin)
 Fukui Railway Nanetsu Line
 Hokuriku Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen (Echizen-Takefu)
Fukui Railway Fukubu Line
 Hinogawa
40.3
 Sabae
 Fukui Railway Seihō Line
43.5
 Kita-Sabae
48.2
 Ōdoro
 JR West Etsumi-Hoku Line
51.4
 Echizen-Hanandō
52.2
 Minami-Fukui (Freight Terminal)
Hokuriku Shinkansen
 Asuwagawa
54.0
 Fukui
Fukui Railway (Fukui Station)
Shin-Fukui
Fukui-Guchi
 Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line
Tawaramachi
 Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line
57.1
 Kita-Fukui
Until 1951
58.5
 Kuzuryū (Temporary Signal Box)
(Until 1949)
 Kuzuryū River
59.9
 Morita
62.2
 Harue
Nishinagata
 Keifuku Maruoka Line
65.9
 Maruoka
69.0
 Echizen Shimonoseki
Until 1940
 Keifuku Eiheiji Line
 Hokuriku Shinkansen
71.7
 Awaraonsen
 Mikuni Line
75.5
 Hosorogi
78.6
 Ushinoya
 Ushinomiya Tunnel
↑Fukui Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture↓
81.3
 Kumasaka (Signal Box)
Until 1963
84.3
 Daishōji
 Hokuriku Railroad Yamanaka Line
 IR Ishikawa Railway Line
Close
Ticket gates to the Hapi-Line Fukui platforms at Fukui Station on opening day

On 16 March 2024, Hapi-Line Fukui took over control of local passenger operations on the 84.3 km (52.4 mi) section JR West Hokuriku Main Line between Daishōji and Tsuruga, with 20 stations (the operation of Tsuruga Station remains under the control of JR West, while Daishōji Station was transferred to IR Ishikawa Railway).[7] In addition, "Rapid" trains were introduced which operate during peak hours between Tsuruga and Fukui stopping only at major stations, saving around 10 minutes.[8][9] In 2024, 5 northbound trips and 4 southbound trips of Rapid Service operated daily.[10][11] From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2026, 4 of the 7 remaining daily Rapid services were replaced with Regional Rapid services.[12]

All Hapi-Line Fukui trains arriving at Daishoji operate a through-service to the IR Ishikawa Railway Line to/from Kanazawa Station.[13]

Service outline

As of March 2026 timetable, services are generally split into 2 sections:[14][15]

In peak hours some Tsuruga — Fukui trains continue through to either Awaraonsen or Kanazawa.

Trains generally operate every 30 or 60 minutes off-peak, and more frequently during peak hours including short working Fukui — Awaraonsen services.[14][15]

2 types of Rapid services operate on the line between Tsuruga and Fukui:[14][15]

  • Rapid: stops at limited stops on the entire section
  • Regional Rapid: stops at some stations between Tsuruga and Shikibu, and all stations between Shikibu and Fukui

2 northbound trips and 1 southbound trip of Rapid service operate in the morning and 2 return Regional Rapid services operate in the evening.[14][15]

Apart from the Rapid services, all services on the line are Local trains, stopping at all stations.

Stations

Aside from the northern terminus (Daishoji), all stations are located in Fukui Prefecture.[6]

Legend:

More information ●, ▲ ...
● All trains stop
▲ Some trains stop
△ 1 Tsuruga-bound train stops
▽ 1 Fukui-bound train stops
｜ All trains pass
Close
More information Station, Japanese name ...
Station Japanese name Distance
(km)		 Regional Rapid[14][15] Rapid[14][15] Transfers Location
Tsuruga 敦賀 0.0 ● ●
Tsuruga Fukui
Minami-Imajō 南今庄 16.6 ｜ ｜ Minamiechizen
Imajō 今庄 19.2 ● ▽
Yunoo 湯尾 22.8 ｜ ｜
Nanjō 南条 26.3 ● ▲
Ōshio 王子保 30.8 ｜ ｜ Echizen
Shikibu しきぶ 33.3 ● △
Takefu 武生 35.1 ● ● Fukui Railway Fukubu Line (Takefu-shin)
Sabae 鯖江 40.3 ● ● Sabae
Kita-Sabae 北鯖江 43.5 ● ｜
Ōdoro 大土呂 48.2 ● ｜ Fukui
Echizen-Hanandō 越前花堂 51.4 ● ｜ ■ Etsumi-Hoku (Kuzuryū) Line
Minami-Fukui Freight Terminal 南福井 52.2 ｜ ｜
Fukui 福井 54.0 ● ●
Morita 森田 59.9
Harue 春江 62.2 Sakai
Maruoka 丸岡 65.9
Awaraonsen 芦原温泉 71.7 Hokuriku Shinkansen Awara
Hosorogi 細呂木 75.5
Ushinoya 牛ノ谷 78.6
Daishōji 大聖寺 84.3 IR Ishikawa Railway Line Kaga Ishikawa
↓Through service to/from Kanazawa on the IR Ishikawa Railway Line↓
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Rolling stock

The company inherited 16 x 2-car 521 series EMU trainsets from JR West.[6] The JR West livery of blue & white stripes was replaced with a pink skirt below a lime green band, along with pink and lime green petals from the Hapi-Line logo.[16]

Services operate as either a 2-car train or a 4-car train (coupled set), as indicated in the published timetable.[17][18]

  • 521 Series, Set HF05
    521 Series, Set HF05
  • 521 Series, Set HF15
    521 Series, Set HF15

See also

References

External links

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