Odoriko Explained

Odoriko
Type:Limited express
Locale:Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Shizuoka Prefecture
First:
  • 1 October 1981 (Odoriko)
  • 28 April 1990
  • 1 December 2012
  • 14 March 2020 (Saphir Odoriko)
Last:13 March 2020 (;)
Formeroperator:JNR
Start: or
End: or
Class:Standard + Green
El:1,500 V DC overhead

is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), Izukyu Corporation, and Izuhakone Railway, which runs between and or in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Summary

The Odoriko started service from October 1981, with the then-new 185 series rolling stock, replacing the earlier Amagi limited express (run by the 183 series) and the Izu express (run by the 153 series). After that, the Super View Odoriko also operated from April 1990 to 13 March 2020, with the 251 series rolling stock. On 14 March 2020, Saphir Odoriko started service using E261 series EMUs.

Regular services

Odoriko

Three services operate back and forth every day between Tokyo and Izukyū Shimoda Station along the Tōkaidō Main Line, Itō Line, and Izu Kyūkō Line, two of which are coupled with services that go to Shuzenji along the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line (decoupled at). Vending services are available between Tokyo and, but aren't available aboard seasonal services.

Aside from that, there are seasonal services running from or that run along the Shōnan–Shinjuku Line, converging at . Also, with the Ueno–Tokyo Line opening in March 2015, there are further services running from Abiko via the Jōban Line,[1] and also from Omiya via the Utsunomiya Line,[2] both going through and Tokyo before continuing to Izukyu-Shimoda.

Stations served

Tokyo ー Izukyu-Shimoda:
  • TokyoShinagawaKawasakiYokohamaOfunaOdawaraYugawaraAtamiAjiroItoIzu-KogenIzu-AtagawaIzu-InatoriKawazuIzukyu-Shimoda
    Atami ー Shuzenji:
  • (Coupled, and continue on towards Tokyo) ー AtamiMishimaMishima-TamachiDaibaIzu-NagaokaOhitoShuzenji
    Seasonal services
    Ikebukuro ー Yokohama:
  • IkebukuroShinjukuShibuyaMusashi-KosugiYokohama ー (Continue on towards Izukyu-Shimoda)
    Abiko ー Tokyo:
  • AbikoKashiwaMatsudoKita-SenjuUenoTokyo ー (Continue on towards Izukyu-Shimoda)
    Omiya ー Tokyo:
  • OmiyaUrawaAkabaneUenoTokyo ー (Continue on towards Izukyu-Shimoda)

    Formation

    Services are now operated on E257 series EMUs.

    On the now retired 185 series, the 15 car formation made the Odoriko the longest Limited Express train running in Japan (excluding shinkansen trains).[3] They were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Izukyū-Shimoda/Shuzenji end.

    1 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"
    2 !3 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 15
    AccommodationReserved Reserved Reserved Green Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
    SetBasic setAdditional set
    1 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"
    2 !3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
    AccommodationReserved Reserved Reserved Green Green Reserved Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved
    SetBasic setAdditional set

    Saphir Odoriko

    The Saphir Odoriko (Japanese: サフィール踊り子|links=no) commenced operations on 14 March 2020 to replace the Super View Odoriko as an ultra-deluxe version of the regular Odoriko. One Saphir Odoriko service runs to and from Tokyo station daily. During the peak travel season, an additional service runs from during weekdays, and runs from during weekends.[4]

    Stations served

    Tokyo - Izukyu-Shimoda

    - - - - - - - - -

    Shinjuku > Izukyu-Shimoda (seasonal service)

    - - - - - - - - - -

    Formation

    Trains are operated by E261 series trainsets. The trains feature all Green Cars, with Car 1 designated as a 'Premium Green Car' with 2 large reclining seats per row.[5]

    The Saphir Odoriko does not operate from, or as the former Super View Odoriko used to. These services were consolidated with the regular Odoriko services.[6] [7]

    Temporary services

    Resort Odoriko

    The Resort Odoriko (Japanese: リゾート踊り子|links=no) is a temporary service, which operates between Tokyo and Izukyū-Shimoda. The service normally consists of one outbound journey to Izukyu-Shimoda at special holidays only.

    Stations served

    Tokyo ー Izukyu-Shimoda:
  • TokyoYokohamaOfunaOdawaraYugawaraAtamiAjiroItoIzu-KogenIzu-AtagawaIzu-InatoriKawazuIzukyu-Shimoda

    Formation

    Resort Odoriko services operate using Izukyū 2100 series "Resort 21" 8-car EMUs, formed as shown below, where car 1 at the Izukyū-Shimoda end, and car 8 at the Tokyo end.

    1 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"
    2 !3 4 5 6 7 8
    AccommodationReserved, Observation deck Reserved Reserved Reserved Green Reserved Reserved Reserved, Observation deck

    Former services

    Super View Odoriko

    The Super View Odoriko (Japanese: スーパービュー踊り子|links=no) was the first deluxe version of the Odoriko operated from 28 April 1990 to 13 March 2020.[8] [7] It used 251 series 10-car EMUs and ran between Tokyo or and Izukyū-Shimoda. The service was originally scheduled to commence from the start of the revised timetable on 10 March 1990, but rolling stock delivery delays meant that services were substituted by regular Odoriko services using 185 series EMUs.

    On weekdays, one train operated from Shinjuku to Izukyu-Shimoda, 2 trains operated back and forth between Tokyo and Izukyu-Shimoda, and one train operated from Izukyu-Shimoda to Ikebukuro each day.

    On weekends, the Shinjuku-originating train changed originating station to Ikebukuro. Aside from that, services from Shinjuku to Izukyu-Shimoda and from Izukyu-Shimoda to Tokyo operated once a day. Moreover, during busy seasons, there were numerous extra services, with one extended service between Omiya and Izukyu-Shimoda, which ran along the Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Omiya to Yokohama; 2 trains from Tokyo to Izukyu-Shimoda, with only 1 returning to Tokyo; and one train from Izukyu-Shimoda to Shinjuku.

    Stations served

    Stations in brackets meant that some services made stop there.

    Tokyo ー Izukyu-Shimoda:
  • ー ー Yokohama ー (Odawara) ー (Yugawara) ー Atami ー (Ajiro) ー ItoIzu-KogenIzu-AtagawaIzu-InatoriKawazuIzukyu-Shimoda
    Ikebukuro ー Yokohama:
  • IkebukuroShinjukuMusashi-Kosugi ー Yokohama ー (Continue on towards Izukyu-Shimoda)
    Temporary services
    Omiya ー Ikebukuro:
  • OmiyaUrawaAkabane ー Ikebukuro ー (Continue on towards Izukyu-Shimoda)

    Formation

    Super View Odoriko trains were operated with 251 series trains, with cars 1, 2 and 10 being double decker cars. Trains were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Izukyū-Shimoda end, and car 10 at the Tokyo and Shinjuku end.

    1 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"
    2 !3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
    NumberingKuRo 250 SaRo 251 MoHa 250 MoHa 251-100 MoHa 250-100 MoHa 251 MoHa 250 MoHa 251 SaHa 251 KuHa 251
    AccommodationGreen, Observation deckGreenReservedReserved ReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReserved, Observation deck
    Green Car exclusive loungeCompartmentsChildren's play area

    Marine Express Odoriko

    From 1 December 2012, seasonal Marine Express Odoriko (Japanese: マリンエクスプレス踊り子|links=no) services were introduced, running between Tokyo and Izukyū-Shimoda. The service normally consisted of one return journey at weekends only.[9] JR East announced that from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2020, Marine Express Odoriko services would be discontinued as they were surplus to requirements.[10]

    Stations served

    Tokyo ー Izukyu-Shimoda:
  • Tokyo (Tokaido Line Platform) ー YokohamaAtamiItoIzu-KogenIzu-AtagawaIzu-InatoriKawazuIzukyu-Shimoda

    Formation

    Marine Express Odoriko services operated using E259 series 6-car EMUs normally used on Narita Express services. The formation is shown below, where car 1 at the Izukyū-Shimoda end, and car 6 at the Tokyo end.

    1 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"
    2 !3 4 56
    AccommodationReserved Reserved Reserved Reserved ReservedGreen

    History

    The limited express service was inaugurated on 1 October 1981 following the introduction of the then-new 185 series EMUs, replacing the earlier Amagi limited express and Izu express services from Tokyo to Izu.[11] The Superview Odoriko operated from April 1990[12] until 13 March 2020. The Saphir Odoriko has been operating since 14 March 2020.[13]

    Future development

    Since the current rolling stock, the 185 series, is aging, there are plans to replace it.

    The 185 series are beginning to be replaced by new E257-2000 series trains that used to operate Azusa and Kaiji limited express services on the Chuo Main Line, and were themselves replaced by E353 series trains. The 185 series trains were completely withdrawn from use on Odoriko services on 12 March 2021.[14]

    JR East has also announced changes to the reserved seating on Odoriko services coinciding with the full retirement of 185 series EMUs from the service. Trains will now use LED seat reservation status indicators, rather than having dedicated non-reserved seat cars. This is the same system used by limited express services on the Chūō Line and Jōban Line. There will be two types of such supplementary tickets in the new system, namely the Reserved Seat Ticket (Japanese: 座席指定券|links=no, pronounced as /ja/), and the Unreserved Seat Ticket (Japanese: 座席未指定券|links=no, pronounced as /ja/). The Unreserved Seat Ticket will replace Non-reserved Seat tickets (Japanese: 自由席券|links=no, pronounced as /ja/), which currently allow use of non-reserved cars.[15]

    The Reserved Seat Ticket enables a specified seat to be reserved for the holder. The reserved status for the seat is signified by a green overhead lamp on top of the corresponding seat.

    The Unreserved Seat Ticket enables the holder to be seated on any unreserved seat. A red overhead lamp signifies that the seat is unreserved; while a yellow overhead lamp signifies that the seat is reserved for the later part of the journey, implying that one has to give up their seat to the passenger who has reserved the seat, when they board the train later.

    Additionally, Tōkaidō Shinkansen passengers used to receive a discount if they transfer to an Odoriko service. This was discontinued in March 2021.

    Namesake

    The word odoriko means dancing girl in Japanese. The train service was named after the title of novel Izu no Odoriko (The Dancing Girl of Izu) by Yasunari Kawabata. The setting of the novel is the destination of the train, Izu Peninsula.

    There are numerous services operating between Tokyo and the Izu Peninsula, which had all been discontinued and became the Odoriko limited express today.

    See also

    References

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: JR East Press Release "About spring extra services". 23 January 2015.
    2. Web site: JR East Press Release "About summer extra services". 22 May 2015.
    3. Book: JR新幹線&特急列車ファイル . JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File. Kōtsū Shimbun . 2008 . Japan . 978-4-330-00608-6.
    4. Web site: Stops and timetables|SAPHIR ODORIKO|JR-EAST. 2021-02-19. www.jreast.co.jp. en.
    5. https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180509/k00/00m/040/043000c 新型の観光特急列車 初の全車両グリーン席
    6. https://web.archive.org/web/20191213080612/https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2019/20191213_ho01.pdf (About the March 2020 schedule revision) JR East, 13 December 2019
    7. https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2019/yokohama/20200228_y01.pdf (Superview Odoriko last run and photo opportunity) 28 February 2020
    8. Book: JR特急10年の歩み. May 1997. Kousai Shuppansha. 4-330-45697-4. Japan. 49–50. ja. 10 Years of JR Limited Express Trains.
    9. Web site: http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2012/20121010.pdf. ja:冬の増発列車のお知らせ. Details of additional winter trains. 19 October 2012. News release. East Japan Railway Company. Japan. ja. 22 October 2012.
    10. Web site: https://railf.jp/news/2020/03/09/171239.html. ja:マリンエクスプレス踊り子運転終了. Marine Express Odoriko operation end. 9 March 2020. News release. Japan Railfan Magazine. Japan. ja. 14 March 2020.
    11. Miyake. Toshihiko. December 2011. 伊豆への優等列車のあゆみ. History of premier trains to Izu. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Japan. Kōtsū Shimbun. 40. 332. 24–31.
    12. Book: ja: JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 . JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009. Neko Publishing. 2009. Japan. 978-4-7770-0836-0. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009.
    13. Web site: 特急"サフィール踊り子"が運転を開始 . Limited express "Saphir Odoriko" starts operation . 15 March 2020 . Japan Railfan Magazine Online . Koyusha Co., Ltd. . Japan . ja . 15 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200315165510/https://railf.jp/news/2020/03/15/201500.html . 15 March 2020 . live.
    14. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/shutoken-news/20210312/1000061531.html 特急「踊り子」185系 引退へ-首都圏 NEWS WEB
    15. https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2020/20201112_ho02.pdf 東海道線特急が新しく生まれ変わります