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Cassiopeia (train)
Encyclopedia
The is a luxury overnight limited express
train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East). It runs between Ueno Station
in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo
in the northern island of Hokkaido
. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.
Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at , , , , , , and . The first stop in Hokkaido is at between 04:00 and 04:30 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo just before nine.
On the return trip from Sapporo, the first stop after leaving Hokkaido is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day. The arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.
The Cassiopeia consists of all type "A" accommodation, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥27,000 for a Cassiopeia Twin room to ¥51,000 for a Cassiopeia Suite.
The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass
, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥5,500 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways between Morioka and .
Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods.
The Cassiopeia runs on the following rail lines:
JR East
IGR Iwate Ginga Railway
Aoimori Railway
JR East
JR Hokkaido
The train changes direction at Aomori and Hakodate.
The train is formed of twelve E26 series sleeping cars, including a lounge car at the Sapporo end and a deluxe suite at the Ueno end. The train is hauled by a JR East Tabata-based Class EF510-500 dual-voltage electric locomotive between Ueno and Aomori, by a JR Hokkaido ED79 AC electric locomotive between Aomori and Hakodate, and by a pair of JR Hokkaido DD51 diesel locomotives
between Hakodate and Sapporo. Prior to June 2010, the services were hauled by JR East Class EF81
dual-voltage electric locomotives.
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East). It runs between Ueno Station
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo
Sapporo, Hokkaido
is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan....
in the northern island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.
Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call at , , , , , , and . The first stop in Hokkaido is at between 04:00 and 04:30 the following day, with arrival in Sapporo just before nine.
On the return trip from Sapporo, the first stop after leaving Hokkaido is at Sendai, around 04:30 the following day. The arrival time at Ueno station is around 09:30.
The Cassiopeia consists of all type "A" accommodation, all specific to this particular train. A flat fee is charged for all rooms, regardless of starting or ending location. Currently, accommodation rates range from about ¥27,000 for a Cassiopeia Twin room to ¥51,000 for a Cassiopeia Suite.
The other fares, the basic fare and limited express fare, are based on distance. For tourists using the Japan Rail Pass
Japan Rail Pass
The is a railpass for overseas visitors sold by the Japan Railways Group, and is good for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group, with a few exceptions. The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country....
, the basic fare does not have to be paid. However there will be a charge of about ¥5,500 each way for travelling on a section of railroad not owned by Japan Railways between Morioka and .
Trains depart three times per week, with more departures during holiday periods.
Route
JR East
- Tōhoku Main Line, Ueno - Morioka
IGR Iwate Ginga Railway
- Iwate Ginga Railway LineIwate Ginga Railway LineThe is a rail line in Japan operated by the Iwate Galaxy Railway Company. It runs from Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate to Metoki Station in Sannohe, Aomori....
, Morioka - Metoki
Aoimori Railway
- Aoimori Railway Line, Metoki - Aomori
JR East
- Tsugaru Line, Aomori - Naka-Oguni
JR Hokkaido
- Kaikyō LineKaikyo Lineis an 87.8-kilometre railway line operated mainly by the Hokkaido Railway Company. The line runs from Naka-Oguni Station in Sotogahama, Aomori, through the Seikan Tunnel between Honshū and Hokkaidō, and on to Kikonai Station in Kikonai, Hokkaidō...
, Naka-Oguni - Kikonai - Esashi LineEsashi LineThe is a Japanese rail line operated by Hokkaido Railway Company that runs between Hakodate City and Esashi Town in Hokkaidō.-Stations:All stations are in Hokkaidō.Track: ∥: Double track, ∨: Double track ends, ◇: Passing loop |: No passing loop...
, Kikonai - Goryōkaku - Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, Goryōkaku - Hakodate - Oshamambe - Muroran Main LineMuroran Main LineThe is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , between Oshamambe Station in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station in Iwamizawa, running through the coast of Iburi Subprefecture...
, Oshamambe - Numanohata - Chitose LineChitose Lineis a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Numanohata, Tomakomai and Shiroishi Station, Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, linking Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line. There also is a branch line to New Chitose Airport.-Basic Data:...
, Numanohata - Shiroishi - Hakodate Main LineHakodate Main Lineis a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, Shiroishi - Sapporo
The train changes direction at Aomori and Hakodate.
Rolling stock
JNR Class DD51
The DD51 is a class of Japanese B-2-B wheel arrangement diesel-hydraulic locomotives. 649 locomotives were built between 1962 and 1978 by Kawasaki Sharyō, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi. The class was designed for mainline passenger and freight use with more power than the D51 and a higher maximum speed...
between Hakodate and Sapporo. Prior to June 2010, the services were hauled by JR East Class EF81
JNR Class EF81
The EF81 class of electric locomotives are Bo-Bo-Bo wheel arrangement multi-voltage AC/DC electric locomotives operated on passenger and freight services in Japan.-EF81-300:...
dual-voltage electric locomotives.
Formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SuRoNeFu E26 | SuRoNe E26 | MaShi E26 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | SuRoNe E27 | KaHaFu E26 |
| Cassiopeia Suite | Cassiopeia Suite / Cassiopeia Deluxe | Dining car | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin / Mini lobby | Cassiopeia Twin / Shower room | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin | Cassiopeia Twin / Mini lobby | Cassiopeia Twin / Shower room | Cassiopeia Twin | Lounge Car/ Generator |