The Hida (ひだ, Hida) is a limited express train service operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) along the Takayama Main Line in central Japan since 1958, which connects Nagoya and Takayama in just over 2 hours, Nagoya and Toyama in 4 hours and Ōsaka and Takayama in 4 hours 15 minutes. The Hida serves various locations en route such as Gifu and Gero. Like all JR Central limited express trains, a limited express fee has to be paid, on top of the normal fare to ride this service.
 A JR Central HC85 series DEMU on a Hida service. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Status | Operational |
| First service | 1 March 1958 |
| Current operator(s) | JR Central |
| Former operator(s) | JNR |
| Route | |
| Termini | Nagoya, Ōsaka Takayama, Hida-Furukawa, Toyama |
| Stops | 23 |
| Distance travelled |
|
| Average journey time | 2 hours (Nagoya - Takayama) 4 hours (Nagoya - Toyama) 4 hours 15 minutes (Ōsaka - Takayama) |
| Service frequency | 11 return workings daily |
| Line(s) used | Tōkaidō Main Line, Takayama Main Line |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Standard (reserved & non-reserved) + Green |
| Disabled access | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | None |
| Catering facilities | None |
| Observation facilities | None |
| Entertainment facilities | None |
| Other facilities | Toilets, WiFi |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | HC85 series DEMU |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Track owner(s) | JR Central, JR West |
Overview edit
Five round trips operate from Nagoya to Takayama, and five more continue past Takayama to Hida-Furukawa and Toyama. Additionally, one service runs from Ōsaka to Takayama. This service runs from Ōsaka to Gifu before coupling with a Hida service from Nagoya and continuing to Takayama. [1][2] Trains operate at a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Stations edit
Stations in brackets () are stations where not all Hida services stop at.
Nagoya – (Owari-Ichinomiya) – Gifu – (Unuma) – Mino-Ota – (Shirakawaguchi) – (Hida-Kanayama) – Gero – (Hida-Hagiwara) – (Hida-Osaka) – (Kuguno) – Takayama
Some services continue to Toyama: Hida-Furukawa – Inotani – Etchu-Yatsuo – (Hayahoshi) – Toyama
Ōsaka service: Ōsaka – Shin-Ōsaka – Kyoto – Kusatsu – Maibara – Ogaki – Gifu (Couple with service from Nagoya) - Unuma – Mino-Ota – Shirakawaguchi – Hida-Kanayama – Gero – Hida-Hagiwara - Hida-Osaka – Kuguno – Takayama
Services to and from Nagoya Station require a switchback at Gifu Station.
The section of the route between Inotani to Toyama and Maibara to Ōsaka is operated by JR West.
Facilities edit
Accommodation edit
Standard class (including reserved seats and non-reserved seats) and Green class is available on this service, although not all services carry a Green car. Seat reservations can be made for an extra fee. Both standard and Green classes feature comfortable seats, with the Green classes consisting of two types. All standard class and Green classes in the middle of the train have 2+2 seat formations, while such Green class are more comfortable yet expensive than standard class. Another type of Green class are located at the front or the end of the car, featuring an even more comfortable 2+1 seat formation, with a panorama view through the driver’s cab. Some panorama seats are cheaper as they are standard reserved or even non-reserved seats.
Utilities edit
There are one or more universal access toilets, as well as normal toilets, depending on how many carriages are being used for the service. There are also wheelchair spaces. Onboard catering services ceased on 16 March 2013. There is a vending machine onboard, which provides a small selection of drinks. Complimentary WiFi is also available.
Scenery edit
The service is known for its window that wraps around the cockpit offering un-interrupted views of the tracks in front of or behind the train; hence, a longer name for this service is Wide View Hida as is the case for other JR Central limited express services. Passengers who wish to take a panorama seat will have to pay an additional fare above basic fare and limited express fare (whether it is standard reserved/non-reserved or Green class) and require the seat specifically.[3]
History edit
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2020) |
The service began on 1 March 1958.
After Typhoon Tokage in 2004, the track suffered major damage from flooding. As a result, instead of going all the way to Toyama Station, trains could only go as far as Hida-Furukawa Station until 8 September 2007, when the track was repaired and again reached all the way to Toyama Station.[4]
Rolling stock edit
Current rolling stock edit
HC85 series diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) hybrid trains were used on Hida services from 1 July 2022.[5] Since JR Central's 18 March 2023 timetable revision, all Hida services have been operated using HC85 series trains.[6]
Past rolling stock edit
KiHa 80 series DMUs were used from the start of operation in 1958 until 1990.
KiHa 85 series trains were used from 1989 until 2023, usually operating as 3-, 4-, 6-, 7-, or 8-car formations, or occasionally 10-car formations, especially during busy seasons.
-
KiHa 80 series -
KiHa 85 series
References edit
- ^ Lambe, Michael. "The Limited Express Hida for Gifu, Gero, Takayama, & Toyama". Nagoya Station. Japan Station Network. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ Lambe, Michael. "The Limited Express Hida for Gifu, Gero, and Takayama". Osaka Station. Japan Station Network. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "TrainReview". trainreview.com. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ 高山線全線の運転再開について (About resuming the operation of whole Takayama Line) Archived 2007-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, news release by JR Central.
- ^ JR東海HC85系「ひだ」7/1から名古屋～高山間の上下各2本で運転開始 [JR Central HC85 series to operate on Hida limited-express services from 1 July]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ 特急“ひだ”全列車がHC85系に置き換えられる [All limited express "Hida" trains replaced by HC85 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2023.