Rakuraku Biwako Explained
| Rakuraku Biwako |
| Type: | Commuter Limited Express |
| Status: | Operational |
| Predecessor: | Biwako Liner |
| First: | 2 June 2003 |
| Operator: | JR West |
| End: | / |
| Distance: | 110.5km (68.7miles) |
| Journeytime: | approx. 1 hr 28 mins (Ōsaka–Maibara) |
| Frequency: | 1 morning working from Maibara to Ōsaka
1 evening working from Ōsaka to Maibara
1 evening working from Ōsaka to Kusatsu |
| Line Used: | Tokaido Main Line (Biwako Line and JR Kyoto Line) |
| Class: | Ordinary + Green |
| Access: | Yes |
| Catering: | None |
| Observation: | None |
| Sleeping: | None |
| Entertainment: | None |
| Otherfacilities: | Toilets |
| Stock: | 681 series EMUs, 683 series EMUs, KiHa 189 series DMUs |
| El: | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| Speed: | 130km/h |
| Owners: | JR West |
The is a commuter limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and or in Japan since June 2003. It replaced the previous Biwako Liner services.[1]
Service pattern
, one weekday morning service (Rakuraku Biwako 1) runs from to, and two weekday evening services (Rakuraku Biwako 2 & 4) run from Osaka to Maibara and respectively, with the journey time from Osaka to Maibara taking approximately 1 hour 28 minutes.[2]
Rolling stock
Services were initially operated using the nine-car 681 series or 683 series EMUs used on Thunderbird services.[1]
Formations
Rakuraku Biwako 1 and 2
Rakuraku Biwako 1 and 2 (between Osaka and Maibara) are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Maibara end.[3]
- Trains run as 9-car formations on certain days.[3]
Rakuraku Biwako 4
Rakuraku Biwako 4 (Osaka to Kusatsu) is formed as follows, with car 1 at the Osaka end.[4]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|
| Accommodation | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved |
|---|
| Facilities | | | Wheelchair-accessible toilet | |
|---|
- All cars are standard class and no-smoking.[4]
- Trains run as 6-car formations during busy periods.[4]
History
The Biwako Express service was introduced from 2 June 2003.[5]
The service was made entirely no-smoking from 1 June 2009.[6]
The service started calling at Minami-Kusatsu Station,[7] and all seats become reserved[8] from 13 March 2021.
Effective the 16 March 2024 timetable revision, all services were renamed to Rakuraku Biwako. At the same time, 9-car 683 series sets operated on this service were replaced with 6-car 681 or 683 series sets.[9]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Book: ja: JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル . JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File . Kotsu Shimbunsha . 2008 . Japan . Japanese . 40. 978-4-330-00608-6.
- Web site: より便利になる通勤特急を「らくラク～」シリーズに統一します . Unification of the more convenient commuter express trains into the "Rakuraku" series. . West Japan Railway Company . 7 May 2024 . Japan . Japanese . 30 January 2024.
- Web site: らくラクびわこ (車両案内) . jr.odekake.net . 7 May 2024 . Japan . Japanese.
- Book: ja: JR時刻表 . JR Timetable. Kotsu Shimbunsha . March 2016 . Japan . Japanese . 110, 985.
- Web site: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/030418a.html. ja: 特急｢びわこエクスプレス」の運転、 特急｢はるか｣の米原延長運転の開始. Start of Biwako Express limited express service and extension of Haruka services to Maibara. 18 April 2003. News release. West Japan Railway Company. Japan. Japanese. https://web.archive.org/web/20031011124402/http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/030418a.html. 11 October 2003. dead. 17 July 2016. dmy-all.
- Web site: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/1174167_799.html. ja: 在来線特急列車などの全席禁煙化ならびに在来線ホームの禁煙化の拡大について . Complete ban of smoking on limited express trains and station platforms . 18 April 2003. News release. West Japan Railway Company. Japan. Japanese. https://web.archive.org/web/20090419053851/http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/1174167_799.html. 19 April 2009. dead . 17 July 2016.
- 2021年3月13日にダイヤ改正を実施します . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218051527/https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/201218_00_keihanshin.pdf . Japanese . 西日本旅客鉄道近畿統括本部 . 2020-12-18 . 2020-12-22 . 2020-12-18.
- 「e5489チケットレスサービス」（在来線）の拡充および特急列車指定席の拡大について . https://web.archive.org/web/20201218065616/https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/items/201218_00_ticketless_keihanshin-kitakinki.pdf . Japanese . 西日本旅客鉄道 . 2020-12-18 . 2020-12-22 . 2020-12-18.
- Web site: 3 February 2024 . JR西日本、近畿エリアを走る通勤特急は「らくラク」シリーズに統一 . JR West Unifies Rakuraku Limited Express Services . 6 February 2024 . MyNavi Corporation . ja.
