Haruka (train)

Haruka

281 series EMU on a Haruka service, August 2004
Overview
Service type	Airport rail link (Limited express)
Locale	Tōkaidō Main Line, Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line, Kansai Airport Line
First service	4 September 1994
Current operator(s)	JR West
Route
Start	Maibara
End	Kansai Airport
Service frequency	30 return workings daily
On-board services
Class(es)	Green/standard
Technical
Rolling stock	281 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)

The Haruka (はるか, Haruka), is a limited express train service, connecting Maibara via Kyoto Station to Kansai Airport Station in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West).

Operations

There are 60 Haruka train services per day, numbered 1 to 60; odd-numbered trains run south (toward the airport) and even-numbered trains run north (away from the airport). They operate every half hour during the daytime and early evening. The typical travel time between Kyoto Station and the airport is 75 minutes for southbound trains and 73 minutes for northbound trains.

Station stops

The Haruka primarily operates between Kyoto Station and Kansai Airport Station, with stops at Shin-Ōsaka Station and Tennōji Station in Osaka City. Some trains make additional stops (stations in italics in list below).

The train travels over the Umeda Freight Line which bypasses Osaka Station when it runs from the Tōkaidō Main Line to Osaka Loop Line and vice versa. Therefore, it does not stop at Osaka Station.

Line	Station	Transfers
Tōkaidō (Biwako)	Maibara	Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Tōkaidō Main Line, Hokuriku Main Line, Ohmi Railway Main Line
	Hikone	Ohmi Railway Main Line
	Ōmi-Hachiman	Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line
	Yasu
	Moriyama
	Kusatsu	Kusatsu Line
	Ishiyama	Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line
	Ōtsu
	Yamashina	Kosei Line, Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line, Subway Tōzai Line
	Kyoto	Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanin Main Line, Nara Line Kintetsu Kyoto Line, Subway Karasuma Line
Tōkaidō (JR Kyoto)
	Shin-Ōsaka	Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanyō Shinkansen, Subway Midōsuji Line
Tōkaidō (freight branch) Osaka Loop
	Tennōji	Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line), Subway Midōsuji and Tanimachi Lines, Kintetsu Minami-Osaka Line
Hanwa
	Izumi-Fuchū
	Hineno	Hanwa Line for Wakayama
Kansai Airport
	Kansai Airport

Rolling stock

Haruka services are operated by a dedicated fleet of 281 series EMUs formed in 6- or 9-car formations. Each formation includes one Green (first class) car (as car No. 1).

Formations

6-car formations

6-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Maibara/Kyoto end.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuRo 280	MoHa 281	SaHa 281	SaHa 281	MoHa 281	KuHa 281
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	※	Non-reserved	Non-reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Vending machine	Wheelchair space / Toilet	Toilet	Vending machine

※for Kansai-airport：Reserved／for Kyoto,Kusatsu,Maibara：Non-reserved

All cars are no-smoking.

9-car formations

9-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Kyoto end.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8	9
Numbering	KuRo 280	MoHa 281	SaHa 281	SaHa 281	MoHa 281	KuHa 281		KuHa 280	SaHa 281	KuHa 281
Accommodation	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved		Reserved	Reserved	Reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Vending machine	Wheelchair space / Toilet	Toilet	Vending machine			Toilet	Toilet	Vending machine

All cars are no-smoking.

Ticketing

As a limited express service, Haruka travel requires both a fare ticket (乗車券, jōshaken) and a limited express ticket (特急券, tokkyūken) – see train tickets in Japan. The ICOCA card can be used as a fare ticket (for passing the ticket gate) for non-reserved travel, with the limited express ticket purchased from the conductor on board the train. Japan Rail Pass holders can ride Haruka services free of charge.

History

The Haruka service was inaugurated on 4 September 1994 using 3-car 281 series EMUs.

6-car 281 series sets were introduced from 2 April 1995, and 9-car (6+3-car) formations were introduced from 14 July 1995.

Non-reserved cars were introduced from 1 December 1998.

The smoking areas were abolished from the start of the 18 March 2007 timetable revision.

External links

• Limited Express Haruka 281 series (Japanese)
• Haruka train service timetable, PDF