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Japanese Shinkansen Schedule Changes on October 1st 2003
A major timetable revision for the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen (Tokyo -
Shin-Osaka - Hakata) and branch lines is scheduled October 1st 2003. Shinkansen platforms will start service in Shinagawa, shortly south of Tokyo Terminal. The number of NOZOMI (the fastest type) will increase. Contents -------- 1 Shinagawa Station 2 More NOZOMI, less HIKARI 3 Branch lines 4 NOZOMI fares come down 5 No NOZOMI for Japan Rail Pass tourists 6 More information (links) 7 Disclaimer Shinagawa Station ----------------- Shinkansen service will come to Shinagawa, 7 km south of Tokyo Station. This will be a convenient transit point for passengers to and from: 1) Southwestern wards of Tokyo 2) JR Sobu Rapid Line and Narita Express (transfer also possible at Tokyo, but there the tracks are deep underground) 3) Keisei Line (via Subway Toei Asakusa Line, another route to Narita Airport) 4) Kawasaki ("ricochet" ticket, costs slightly more than via Shin-Yokohama) About 2 NOZOMI and 1 HIKARI will serve Shinagawa each hour. Not all trains. No trains will start or terminate at Shinagawa. (This may change in the future.) Note that Toei Asakusa Line starts one stop north of Shinagawa, from Sengakuji. Through service is available but the fare is rather high for two companies charge for the "first mile". More NOZOMI, less HIKARI ------------------------ The number of NOZOMI, the fastest type, will increase (from the current 2) to 3 hourly daytime between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. 6 to 7 will depart on peak hours. HIKARI, the next fastest type, will be curtailed to 2 runs hourly east, 1 to 2 hourly west of Shin-Osaka. Both the NOZOMI and HIKARI will serve more stations. Improved NOZOMI service: Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Fukuyama, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Shin-Shimonoseki. Improved HIKARI service: Odawara, Mishima, Toyohashi, Himeji, Aioi, Fukuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama, Shin-Shimonoseki. All NOZOMI will serve Shin-Kobe (except those that turn back at Shin-Osaka.) KODAMA schedules will be adjusted. The number of runs will increase but slightly, with additions in early morning and late night. Ogori (Ogohri) will change name to Shin-Yamaguchi. No plans for an express or rapid to link this Shinkansen stop with Yamaguchi City (head of Yamaguchi-ken.) Branch lines ------------ Timetables for lines branching from the Tokaido-Sanyo trunk will be adjusted. More (often faster) Limited Express trains on the following runs: Nagoya / Maibara = Kanazawa / Toyama Kyoto - Higashi-Maizuru / Fukuchiyama Osaka = Tottori / Kurayoshi Okayama = Tottori Tottori = Yonago Okayama - Kochi More rapid trains on the following runs: Okayama = Takamatsu Hiroshima - Miyoshi (= : faster trains) NOZOMI fares come down ---------------------- The NOZOMI reserved-seat surcharge will come down a bit. NOZOMI will also have non-reserved seats, which cost the same as they do now on HIKARI and KODAMA. Shinkansen discount tickets names and rules will change reflecting the increase of NOZOMI runs. In commemoration of the timetable revision, JR West will put a special treat on their Shinkansen coupon tickets (****eiseki kaisuu ken). For one ticket out of each pack, they'll allow free upgrade from second class reserved to first. The whole Shinkansen trip must be within JR West area (Shin-Osaka to Hakata.) Valid for coupons sold Oct 1 to Dec 22. Price list in Japanese: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslis...a_shin_kai.pdf Prices for Tokyo to Osaka one-way ticket (in yen, effective Oct 1st 2003) Regular fa 1st class, NOZOMI, reserved: 18,690 2nd class, NOZOMI, reserved: 14,050 2nd class, HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: 13,750 2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, non-reserved: 13,240 * Reserved seats +200 yen "peak" days (hambouki), -200 yen "idle" days (kansanki). * Same price for Shinagawa. * Ticket valid to all JR stations within Osaka-shi. Discount tickets: Nozomi Coupon (****eiseki kaisuu ken) pack of 6 2nd class reserved: total 82,500 = 6 x 13,750 * Not valid Dec 28-Jan 6, Apr 27-May 6, Aug 11-20. Shinkansen Coupon (****eiseki kaisuu-ken) pack of 20 2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: total 264,800 = 20 x 13,240 * Not valid Dec 28-Jan 6, Apr 27-May 6, Aug 11-20. Hikari Early Reservation Discount (hayatoku) 2nd class, HIKARI only, reserved: 12,000 * Reserve one week before departure at latest. * Limited supply, no changes, no refunds. Express Yoyaku 2nd class, NOZOMI/HIKARI/KODAMA, reserved: 13,200 * Reserve from cellular phone or by e-mail. * Changes permitted up to departure. * Members only. 1,050 yen annual membership fee. Other modes of transportation: Airline Haneda - Itami or Kansai Int'l: 16,700 off-peak (18,500 peak) JR Tokaido Line on a local train: 8,510 JR Tokaido Line night express, B class berth: 16,070 Highway bus, day run: 6,000 Highway bus, overnight run: 8,610 * Regular fare. Check with airlines and bus companies for their discounts. Prices listed here subject to change. Competing rail, bus and air companies keep coming up with new discount tickets. No NOZOMI for Japan Rail Pass tourists -------------------------------------- The rule disallowing Japan Rail Pass holders from boarding NOZOMI (without paying extra) will not change. Please keep this in mind when drawing itineraries. Due to reduced HIKARI service, a transfer will become necessary on most trips crossing Shin-Osaka. Kyoto to Hiroshima is such a case. Making an intermediate pause at Himeji might be a good idea. Japan Rail Pass: http://www.japanrailpass.net/ There is no discount when transfering from Shinkansen to Narita Express at Shinagawa. (Express charges are halved in most other cases when transfering from Shinkansen to local line limited/express.) Non-reserved seats are of limited supply on the NOZOMI: 3 cars out of 16. Those who really want to get a seat would consider waiting in line at Tokyo instead of taking chances at Shinagawa or Shin-Yokohama. More information ---------------- All pages listed here English text. New Timetable and Fares for the Tokaido Shinkansen upon the Opening of the Shinagawa Station http://jr-central.co.jp/info_e.nsf/doc/e_news5 (For investors. Not the real timetable, just the main points.) New Timetable and Pricing System for the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Lines to Be Implemented in Conjunction with the Opening of Shinagawa Station http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/engl...wtimetable.pdf (Also for investors. Not the real timetable. A chart shows changes.) JR West info in English http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/english/ (No info concerning timetable changes here as of this writing of Sept 29. ) JAPAN RAILWAYS: Routes, Schedules and Fares http://www.japanrail.com/2_rail/index.html (Shinkansen Timetable. Not updated as of this writing.) Hyperdia (automated timetable) http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/ (Similarly not updated yet. Blindly accepts dates beyond Oct 1.) Disclaimer ---------- This is a private translation of railroad authority announcements. Despite my efforts, errors may have slipped in. Please check the certified timetable. Kindly reply if anything seems wrong. Are there any rumors making the rounds? Let me know. Bon Voyage, Douso, The Prophet of the Way |
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Japanese Shinkansen Schedule Changes on October 1st 2003
I think it does not make sense that the Japan Rail Pass will still not be in
effect for NOZOMI trains. There is less convenience and less choice for the foreign customer (such as myself who wants to visit in June!) Jose AmiCode(1.0.0) MA:5[6]X:**O:d-a-hu++ Note: Junk block string attached to e-mail address |
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