Cassiopeia (train)

Cassiopeia
A Cassiopeia service hauled by EF510-509 in August 2010
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusOperational (cruise service)
LocaleJapan
First serviceJuly 1999 (scheduled service) 2016-present (cruise service)
Last serviceMarch 2016 (scheduled service)
Current operator(s)JR East
Route
TerminiUeno
Sapporo (scheduled service)

Sendai (cruise service)

Aomori (cruise service)
Average journey timeApprox. 16½ hours (scheduled service)
Service frequency3 times weekly (Ueno-Sapporo)
On-board services
Seating arrangementsLounge car
Sleeping arrangementsCompartments and suites
Catering facilitiesDining car
Observation facilitiesObservation lounge at end of train
Technical
Rolling stockE26 series sleeping cars
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50 Hz)
Operating speed110 km/h (70 mph)

The Cassiopeia (カシオペア, Kashiopea) is a luxury cruise train service in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It formerly operated as a limited express from July 1999 until March 2016, when it was discontinued due to the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. It ran between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido. The one-way journey to Sapporo took approximately 161⁄2 hours.

Route

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The original Cassiopeia ran on the following rail lines:

JR East

IGR Iwate Ginga Railway

Aoimori Railway

JR East

JR Hokkaido

The train changed direction at Aomori and Hakodate.

Northbound trains to Sapporo departed from Ueno after 16:00, and called at Ōmiya, Utsunomiya, Kōriyama, Fukushima, Sendai, Ichinoseki, and Morioka. The first stop in Hokkaido was at Hakodate at 05:00 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo around 09:30. Southbound trains to Ueno departed from Sapporo after 16:00; the first stop after leaving Hokkaido was at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day, and the arrival time at Ueno Station around 09:30.[1]

The original Cassiopeia departed three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods.

Rolling stock

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Deluxe suite car at rear of Cassiopeia train (actually being propelled empty into Ueno Station)

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 locomotive power for charter services is provided by JR Freight, which include Class EF81 dual-voltage locomotives or Class EF64 locomotives from Ueno to Aomori, Class EH800 AC electric locomotives for the Seikan Tunnel and Class DF200 diesel locomotives for non-electrified routes in Hokkaido.

Former rolling stock

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The original train was 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]

  • A Cassiopeia service in April 2012, hauled by JR East Class EF510-500 electric locomotive EF510-510
    A Cassiopeia service in April 2012, hauled by JR East Class EF510-500 electric locomotive EF510-510
  • A Cassiopeia service at Hakodate Station in March 2016, hauled by JR Hokkaido Class ED79 electric locomotive ED79 14
    A Cassiopeia service at Hakodate Station in March 2016, hauled by JR Hokkaido Class ED79 electric locomotive ED79 14
  • A Cassiopeia service in Hokkaido in September 2011, hauled by a pair of JR Hokkaido Class DD51 diesel locomotives
    A Cassiopeia service in Hokkaido in September 2011, hauled by a pair of JR Hokkaido Class DD51 diesel locomotives
  • A Cassiopeia service at Utsunomiya Station in September 2007, hauled by a JR East Class EF81 electric locomotive
    A Cassiopeia service at Utsunomiya Station in September 2007, hauled by a JR East Class EF81 electric locomotive

Formation

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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

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Interior of the lounge car looking towards the locomotive

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. 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 during the original service, the basic fare did not have to be paid. However, there is 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

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The Cassiopeia service from Ueno to Sapporo first ran on 16 July 1999.[4]

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, smoking was banned in the restaurant car of Cassiopeia services.[5]

End of scheduled services

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The last scheduled Cassiopeia services were discontinued in March 2016 ahead of the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen high-speed line. The last down service departed from Ueno Station in Tokyo on 19 March 2016, and the last up service departed from Sapporo on 20 March, arriving at Ueno on 21 March.[4]

Cruise services

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Neither JR East nor JR Hokkaido owns electric locomotives capable of operating through the Seikan Tunnel to and from Hokkaido after the overhead line voltage was raised from 20 kV to 25 kV AC with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen on 26 March 2016, but JR East leases JR Freight Class EH800 electric locomotives to haul the Cassiopeia trainset on seasonal services through the Seikan Tunnel after the Hokkaido Shinkansen opened.[6] The coaches are also used on cruise train services to other destinations within the JR East region, which include Sendai and Aomori.[6]

  • A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR East Class EF64-1000 and EF81 electric locomotives in June 2016
    A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR East Class EF64-1000 and EF81 electric locomotives in June 2016
  • A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR Freight Class EH800 electric locomotive EH800-3 in Hokkaido in July 2016
    A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR Freight Class EH800 electric locomotive EH800-3 in Hokkaido in July 2016
  • A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR Freight Class DF200 diesel locomotive DF200-61 in Hokkaido in July 2016
    A Cassiopeia cruise train hauled by JR Freight Class DF200 diesel locomotive DF200-61 in Hokkaido in July 2016

See also

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References

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  • JR Timetable, March 2008 issue
  1. ^ えきねっと（JR東日本）｜寝台特急カシオペア＞時刻表・料金表 (in Japanese). Jreast.co.jp. Archived from the original on 1 September 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. ^ JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. 2008. p. 130. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  3. ^ EF510 500番代による〈カシオペア〉牽引開始 [Start of EF510-500 haulage for Cassiopeia services]. Hobidas (in Japanese). Neko Publishing. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 29 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  4. ^ a b 寝台特急“カシオペア”運転終了 ["Cassiopeia" sleeper services end]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  5. ^ ２０１２年３月ダイヤ改正について [March 2012 Timetable Revision] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ^ a b Hosozawa, Ayateru (19 February 2016). "New day dawning for JR East's luxury sleeper train Cassiopeia". Asia & Japan Watch. Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
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