Tsurugi (train service)

The Tsurugi (つるぎ, "sword") is a high-speed shinkansen train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Toyama and Tsuruga on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line in Japan. The shinkansen service was introduced on 14 March 2015, but the name was first used for a limited express overnight "Blue Train" sleeping car train service operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by JR West from 1961 until 1994. It was named after Mount Tsurugi.

Tsurugi

A JR East E7 series train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen
Overview
Service type	Shinkansen (Local)
Status	Operational
Locale	Hokuriku region, Japan
First service	1 October 1961 (Limited express) 14 March 2015 (Shinkansen)
Current operator(s)	JR West
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Termini	Toyama Tsuruga
Service frequency	25 return services daily
Line(s) used	Hokuriku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es)	Green + Ordinary
Technical
Rolling stock	E7 series, W7 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC, 50/60 Hz overhead
Operating speed	260 km/h (160 mph)

Service outline

As of 16 March 2024^[update], 25 return Tsurugi services operate daily as a shuttle between Toyama and Tsuruga, with some services stopping at every station en route.^[1] Trains operate at a maximum speed of 260 km/h (160 mph).^[2]

Rolling stock

• E7 series 12-car sets based at Nagano Depot, since 14 March 2015
• W7 series 12-car sets based at Hakusan Depot, since 14 March 2015

Tsurugi services are operated using JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series 12-car train sets based at Nagano and Hakusan depots respectively.^[2]

• 
  JR East E7 series train set F12 on the Hokuriku Shinkansen

Formations

Tsurugi shinkansen services use 12-car JR East E7 series and JR West W7 series trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the Toyama (eastern) end. Cars 1 to 7 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, car 11 is a "Green" car with 2+2 seating, and cars 8 to 10 and 12 are not available for passenger use. All cars are no-smoking.^[3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Not in use	Not in use	Not in use	Green	Not in use
Facilities	Toilets		Toilets, phone		Toilets		Wheelchair space, accessible toilet, phone				Wheelchair space, accessible toilet

History

Sleeping car Tsurugi

A Class EF81 electric locomotive at the head of a Tsurugi sleeping car service

The Tsurugi service was first introduced on 1 October 1961 as a limited express service operating between Osaka and Niigata.^[4] Regular Tsurugi services were discontinued from the start of the revised timetable on 4 December 1994.^[4]

Shinkansen Tsurugi

From 14 March 2015, the name Tsurugi was reinstated for use on all-stations shuttle services operating between Toyama and Kanazawa following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen beyond Nagano.^[2] Services were extended to Tsuruga when the Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended on 16 March 2024.^[5][1]

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan