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Shimokita (train)

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)
Former operator(s) JNR
Route
TerminiHachinohe
Ōminato
Stops8
Distance travelled109.7 km (68.2 mi)
Service frequency3 round trip services daily to Hachinohe
Line(s) usedŌminato Line
Aoimori Railway Line
On-board services
Class(es)Standard only
Disabled accessYes
Sleeping arrangementsNone
Catering facilitiesNone
Observation facilitiesNone
Entertainment facilitiesNone
Other facilitiesToilets
Technical
Rolling stockKiHa 100 series DMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)

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 Company, which runs from Hachinohe to Ōminato via the Aoimori Railway Line and the Ōminato Line.[1]

Service pattern

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There are three daily round trip services to Hachinohe.[2]

Station list

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Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers, Notes 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
Ottomo 乙供 6.9 38.4 (limited service)
Noheji 野辺地 19.9 51.4 Aoimori Railway Line ↑, Ōminato Line ↓ Noheji
Mutsu-Yokohama 陸奥横浜 30.1 81.5 Yokohama
Chikagawa 近川 12.6 94.1 (limited service) Mutsu
Shimokita 下北 25.3 106.8
Ōminato 大湊 2.9 109.7  

History

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Semi express (1961–1965)

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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)

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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–present)

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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] On 13 March 2021, the Shimokita service operated jointly by JR East and the Aoimori Railway between Aomori and Ōminato was abolished, though the service continues to operate between Hachinohe and Ōminato.[5]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shimokita (train).
  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. ^ a b c d 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. pp. 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.
  5. ^ "青い森鉄道列車時刻表" [Aoimori Railway Train Timetable] (PDF) (in Japanese). Aoimori Railway Co., Ltd. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.