Shimokita (train)

The Shimokita (しもきた) is a "Rapid" limited-stop train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Aoimori Railway Line, which runs from Aomori and Hachinohe to Ōminato via the former Tōhoku Main Line and Ōminato Line.[1]

Shimokita
JR East KiHa 100 series DMU car KiHa 100-202 at Aomori Station on a Shimokita rapid service in February 2004
Overview
Service typeRapid
StatusOperational
LocaleAomori Prefecture
First service
  • 15 September 1961 (Semi express)
  • 1 October 1966 (Express)
  • 1 December 1993 (Rapid)
Current operator(s)
  • JR East
  • Aoimori Railway
Former operator(s) JNR
Route
StartAomori, Hachinohe
EndŌminato
Service frequency1 round trip service to Aomori, 3 round trip services daily to Hachinohe
Line(s) usedŌminato Line
On-board services
Class(es)Monoclass
Catering facilitiesNone
Technical
Rolling stockKiHa 100 series DMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrificationnone
Operating speed110 km/h (70 mph)

Service pattern

One daily round trip service to Aomori, and three round trip services daily to Hachinohe.[2]

Station list
From Aomori
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
Aomori 青森 - 0.0 Ōu Main Line, Tsugaru Line Aomori Aomori
Higashi-Aomori 東青森 5.8 5.8
Asamushi-Onsen 浅虫温泉 11.4 17.2
Kominato 小湊 10.2 27.4 Hiranai
Noheji 野辺地 17.2 44.6 Aoimori Railway Line Noheji
Mutsu-Yokohama 陸奥横浜 30.1 74.7 Yokohama
Shimokita 下北 25.3 100 Mutsu
Ōminato 大湊 2.9 102.9  
From Hachinohe
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
Hachinohe 八戸 - 0.0 Tōhoku Shinkansen, Hachinohe Line, Aoimori Railway Line Hachinohe Aomori
Shimoda 下田 11.1 11.1 Oirase
Misawa 三沢 9.9 21 Misawa
Kamikitachō 上北町 10.5 31.5 Tōhoku
Noheji 野辺地 19.9 51.4 Aoimori Railway Line Noheji
Mutsu-Yokohama 陸奥横浜 30.1 81.5 Yokohama
Shimokita 下北 25.3 106.8 Mutsu
Ōminato 大湊 2.9 109.7  

History

Semi express (1961 - 1965)

The Shimokita name was first used on 15 September 1961 for a semi express service which operated between Morioka in Iwate Prefecture and Ōwani in Aomori Prefecture via Aomori.[3] This was discontinued on 30 September 1965, replaced by the Michinoku service.[3]

Express (1966 - 1982)

The Shimokita name was subsequently used from 1 October 1966 for an express service which operated between Morioka and Ikarigaseki in the down direction and between Ōwani and Morioka in the up direction.[3] This was discontinued on 14 November 1982.[3]

Rapid (1993 - )
A JR East KiHa 40 series DMU set on a Shimokita service in 2008

The Shimokita name was revived in 1993 when new KiHa 100 series DMU trains were introduced on the former Usori rapid services operating between Ōminato, Noheji, and Aomori.[4]

See also

References
  1. 12月4日ダイヤ改正後の青森地区列車運転体系 [Operating pattern of Aomori area trains following 4 December timetable revision]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 39 no. 320. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. December 2010. pp. 24–25.
  2. "Rapid (Ominato - Noheji - Aomori)". www.jreast.co.jp.
  3. Teramoto, Mitsuteru (23 July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 277–278. ISBN 4-88732-093-0.
  4. 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995] (in Japanese). Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 32.
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