Super Hakuto

The Super Hakuto (スーパーはくと) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the third-sector railway operator Chizu Express and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), which runs between Kyoto and Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture at a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph).[1]

Super Hakuto

A HOT7000 series DMU on a Super Hakuto service, April 2010
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Operational
Locale	Tokaido Main Line, Sanyo Main Line, Chizu Express Chizu Line, Inbi Line, Sanin Main Line
First service	3 December 1994
Current operator(s)	Chizu Express, JR West
Route
Start	Kyōto
Stops	17
End	Kurayoshi
Distance travelled	157.8 mi (254 km) (Kyoto - Tottori) 182.2 mi (293.2 km) (Kyoto - Kurayoshi)
Average journey time	3 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes
Service frequency	7 return workings daily
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard + Green
Technical
Rolling stock	HOT7000 series DMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Diesel
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)

Station stops

Kyōto – Shin-Ōsaka – Ōsaka – Sannomiya – (Kōbe) – Akashi – (Nishi-Akashi) – (Kakogawa) – Himeji – (Aioi) – Kamigōri – Sayo – Ōhara – Chizu – Kōge – Tottori – (Kurayoshi)

• Only Super Hakuto no 13 stops at Kōbe, Nishi-Akashi, and Kakogawa • Only Super Hakuto nos 1 and 3 stop at Aioi • Super Hakuto nos 9 and 13 terminate at Tottori

Rolling stock

Super Hakuto

• HOT7000 series tilting DMUs (since 3 December 1994)

Hakuto

• KiHa 181 series DMUs (3 December 1994 - November 1997)

• 
  KiHa 181 series DMU on a Hakuto service

Formation

Services are normally formed of five-car HOT7000 series sets, as shown below, with car 5 at the Kyoto end. All cars are non-smoking, although cars 1 and 5 have smoking rooms.[1]

Car No.	1	2	3	4		5
Numbering	HOT7010	HOT7030	HOT7040	HOT7050		HOT7000
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved
Facilities	Smoking room	Toilet	Universal access toilet	Toilet		Smoking room

• Car 5 is sometimes replaced by a HOT7020 car with gangwayed cab end.[1]

History

Super Hakuto services commenced on 3 December 1994.[2] Initially, Hakuto services using JR West KiHa 181 series DMUs were also operated over the same route, but these were discontinued from November 1997, from which date all six return services daily became Super Hakuto operating at a maximum speed of 130 km/h.[2]

All cars were made non-smoking from 1 June 2008, from which time smoking rooms were added to cars 1 and 5.[1]

References

1. JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 2008. p. 92. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
2. こだわりの新幹線＆特急列車ガイド [In-depth Shinkansen & Limited Express Guide] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publishing. August 2000. pp. 136–137. ISBN 4-87149-284-2.

External links

• Chizu Express Super Hakuto (in Japanese)
• JR West Super Hakuto HOT7000 series train information (in Japanese)