Hokuriku Shinkansen

Notes

As of 2024, the maximum line speed is 110 km/h (70 mph) between Tokyo and Ueno, 130 km/h (81 mph) between Ueno and Omiya,^[10] 275 km/h (170 mph) between Omiya and Takasaki,^[11] and 260 km/h (160 mph) between Takasaki and Tsuruga.^[12]

Non-revenue-earning types

• East i (E926)

Former rolling stock

• E2 series 8-car "N" sets on Tokyo - Nagano Asama services only
• E2 series 8-car "J" sets
• E4 series 8-car "P50/P80" sets as Max Asama
• 200 series 12-car set F80 during February 1998 only

The original E2 series 8-car "J" sets, primarily used on Tohoku Shinkansen services were also used on some Asama services until they were subsequently lengthened to 10 cars. One specially-modified 200 series set, numbered F80, was used on additional Asama services in February 1998 during the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano. The train was modified to operate on both 25 kV AC 50 Hz and 60 Hz overhead power supplies, incorporated weight-saving measures to comply with the 16 tonne axle load restriction, and included additional control equipment to cope with the 30‰ gradient of the Nagano Shinkansen.^[18] Its maximum speed was limited to 210 km/h (130 mph).^[18] The last services operated using eight-car E2 series trainsets ran on 31 March 2017, from which date all Asama services were formed of E7 and W7 series trainsets.^[19]

• 
  Nagano Shinkansen E2 series "N" set (Set N11) approaching Tokyo, June 2002
• 
  Nagano Shinkansen E2 series "J" set (Set J6) approaching Karuizawa, February 1998
• 
  An E4 series set (Set P14)
• 
  Modified set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen Asama service, February 1998

Nagano Shinkansen

The initial section between Takasaki and Nagano opened on 1 October 1997, in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Between May 2012 and March 2014, station platforms on the Nagano Shinkansen had their platform roofs extended to handle the E7 series 12-car trains which entered service in March 2014 ahead of the March 2015 opening of the extension beyond Nagano.^[20] The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa opened in March 2015.^[20] The 113 km (70 mi) extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga was approved for construction in June 2012.^[21]

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, E7 series trainsets were introduced on Asama services.^[13] Initially used on seven return services daily, this number was increased to eleven return services daily from 19 April 2014.^[13]

Naming

The line's legal name has always been Hokuriku Shinkansen. However, just before the opening of the Nagano section, JR East decided that using this name in passenger service was to be avoided. From 22 March 1997 until the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, the primary route for Hokuriku customers (from the Tokyo area) was to use the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station, then transfer to a Hakutaka service via the Hokuetsu Express, rendering using the Takasaki–Nagano section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen meaningless for them. Therefore, JR East sought other names.^[22]

Alternatively, local governments in Hokuriku, fearing construction west of Nagano may be halted, petitioned that the name "Hokuriku" should remain in use for operational purposes. ^[23]

JR East announced the following solution on 25 July 1997:^[24]

• Voice announcements using "Nagano Shinkansen"
• Tokyo area stations using depictions with "Nagano-bound Shinkansen".
• Stations between Annaka-Haruna Station and Nagano Station depicting "Shinkansen" only.

Soon, "Nagano-bound Shinkansen" fell out of use, and timetables by various publishers use "Nagano Shinkansen" only.^[25] Construction to Kanazawa was officially decided, thereby reducing the opposition to the name.

Extension beyond Nagano

Construction of the extension from Nagano to Kanazawa was completed on 24 May 2014.^[26] When services commenced in March 2015, the travel time from Tokyo to Toyama was reduced to about two hours, with Kanazawa an additional 30 minutes away.^[26] Final permission to start construction to Fukui was granted in December 2011, with modification works to Fukui Station already in progress for several years in anticipation of the extension.^[27] The extension to Tsuruga was approved for construction on 30 June 2012,^[28] and opened on 16 March 2024.^[29] Beyond Jōetsumyōkō Station, the line is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) instead of East Japan Railway Company (JR East).^[30]

Naming issue rises again

Many people speculated about and discussed what the line's operational name should be after Nagano–Kanazawa section is completed.

Nagano economic associations argued a sudden change in name will confuse customers, propose "Nagano–Hokuriku Shinkansen" to be used.^[31] In contrast government officials and economic associations in Hokuriku region defended the legal name, including statements such as "a just result should come after 3 prefectures striving for 40 years".^[32][33][34]

The section west of Jōetsumyōkō belongs to JR West, which did not state an opinion and used "Hokuriku Shinkansen" only.^[35]

On 2 October 2013, JR East announced formal line name will be Hokuriku Shinkansen (consistent with National Shinkansen Railway Development Act) and depicted as Hokuriku Shinkansen (via Nagano) to reflect its expansion into the region, resolving the naming issue.^[36]

Test-running

Test-running on the JR East section of the line between Nagano and Kurobe-Unazukionsen commenced on 1 December 2013, initially at low speeds using the "East i" test train.^[37] From 6 December of that year, test-running commenced using 10-car E2 series trainsets, with running speeds gradually increased to the full line speed of 260 km/h (160 mph).^[37] Test-running continued until the end of March 2014.^[37] Test-running on the entire line between Nagano and Kanazawa (Hakusan Depot) started on 1 August 2014, using the "East i" test train.^[38] Test-running using W7 series trains commenced on 5 August 2014, initially at low speed, on the JR West section between Kanazawa and Jōetsumyōkō.^[39]

Tsuruga extension

In the months preceding the opening, JR West conducted various low speed runs on the new Kanazawa-Tsuruga section using "East i" test trains on 23 September 2023.^[40] Runs using regular W7 series trainsets started on 26 September.^[40] Regular passenger service began on 16 March 2024, with ceremonies at both Tsuruga and Tōkyō from the respective presidents of JR West and JR East.^[41] The extension cost ¥1.67 trillion (US$15.22 billion) to build.^[42]

In accordance with the opening of the extension, the limited express service Thunderbird ended its service between Tsuruga and Kanazawa on 15 March 2024.^[43]

Electrification

The Hokuriku Shinkansen is electrified at 25 kV AC, but uniquely amongst Shinkansen routes, it crosses Japan’s 50 Hz/60 Hz frequency boundary three times, requiring dual-frequency rolling stock. The section between Tokyo and Karuizawa operates at 50 Hz, the section between Karuizawa and Itoigawa at 60 Hz, and the line then reverts to 50 Hz around Itoigawa before switching back to 60 Hz between Kurobe-Unazukionsen and Tsuruga. To accommodate this arrangement, the E7 and W7 series trainsets are equipped with onboard converters and automatic frequency-switching equipment.^[44]

Interim plans

In an attempt to extend the benefits of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to stations west of Tsuruga before the section to Shin-Osaka is completed, JR West was working in partnership with Talgo on the development of a Gauge Change Train (GCT), which was proposed to be capable of operating under both the 25 kV AC electrification used on the Shinkansen and the 1.5 kV DC system employed on conventional lines. The six-car train was due to start trials on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Hokuriku and Kosei lines in 2017. As part of the project JR West had begun trials with a purpose-built 180 m (590 ft) long gauge-changer at Tsuruga.^[53] However, as a result of the abandonment of the proposed use of a GCT on the West Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki by JR Kyushu, in August 2018 JR West announced that the proposed GCT between Tsuruga and Osaka had been abandoned.^[54]

2025 revision

On 16 December 2025, the LDP–Japan Innovation Party coalition under Sanae Takaichi announced that it would reconsider the Obama–Kyoto route that was selected in 2016.^[5] The revision came at the behest of Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto City Council [ja] citing negative economic and environmental impacts. Including the withheld Obama–Kyoto alignment and the two other routes decided upon in 2016, four additional choices were proposed as alternatives.^[55] As a result, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has suspended its plans to commence construction in fiscal year 2026.^[5]