Hapi-Line Fukui (株式会社ハピラインふくい, Kabushiki-gaisha Hapirain Fukui) is a Japanese third-sector railway company established in 2019 that operates passenger railway services on the section of the former JR West Hokuriku Main Line that lay within Fukui Prefecture. This section of the Hokuriku Main Line was separated from the JR West network on 16 March 2024, coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, and Hapi-Line Fukui trains began operation on that day.[1][2]

Hapi-Line Fukui
Native name
ハピラインふくい
Company typeThird sector
GenreRail transport
Founded13 August 2019
Headquarters,
Japan
Area served
Fukui Prefecture
ServicesPassenger railway
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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In preparation for the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension between Kanazawa and Tsuruga stations,[3] the company was founded on 13 August 2019 to inherit the parallel section between Tsuruga and Daishōji stations on the Hokuriku Main Line. Its headquarters are located in the city of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture.[4][5]

Shares in the company are owned by Fukui Prefecture, the cities of Fukui and Tsuruga, the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency, and private-sector businesses.[6]

Hapi-Line Fukui Line

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Hapi-Line Fukui Line
Overview
Native nameハピラインふくい線
OwnerHapi-Line Fukui
LocaleFukui Prefecture
Termini
Stations20 (including freight stations)
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)Hapi-Line Fukui
Rolling stock521 series EMUs
History
Opened
  • 1 November 1898 (as Hokuriku Main Line)
  • 16 March 2024 (as Hapi-Line Fukui Line)
Technical
Line length84.3 km (52.4 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification20 kV AC (60 Hz)
 
Ticket gates to the Hapi-Line Fukui platforms at Fukui Station on opening day

On 16 March 2024, Hapi-Line Fukui took over control of local passenger operations on the 84.3 km (52.4 mi) section JR West Hokuriku Main Line between Daishoji and Tsuruga, with 20 stations (although Tsuruga Station remains under the control of JR West, Daishoji was transferred to IR Ishikawa Railway).[6] In addition, a new service type called "Rapid" was introduced on that same day, which operates during peak hours between Tsuruga and Fukui and stops at major stations along the route.[7][8] From the time of takeover on 16 March 2024, 5 northbound trips and 4 southbound trips of Rapid Service are operated daily.[9][10]

Some Hapi-Line Fukui trains provide through-service to the IR Ishikawa Railway Line, which continue on to Kanazawa Station.[11]

Stations

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Aside from the northern terminus, all stations are located in Fukui Prefecture.[6]

Legend:

All Rapid trains stop
Some Rapid trains stop
All Rapid trains pass
Station Japanese name Distance
(km)
Rapid[9][10] Transfers Location
Tsuruga 敦賀 0.0 Obama Line

    Hokuriku & Kosei Lines
  Hokuriku Shinkansen

Tsuruga Fukui
Minami-Imajō 南今庄 16.6 Minamiechizen
Imajō 今庄 19.2
Yunoo 湯尾 22.8
Nanjō 南条 26.3
Ōshio 王子保 30.8 Echizen
Takefu 武生 35.1 Fukui Railway Fukubu Line (Takefu-shin)
Sabae 鯖江 40.3 Sabae
Kita-Sabae 北鯖江 43.5
Ōdoro 大土呂 48.2 Fukui
Echizen-Hanandō 越前花堂 51.4 Etsumi-Hoku (Kuzuryū) Line
Minami-Fukui Freight Terminal 南福井 52.2
Fukui 福井 54.0   Hokuriku Shinkansen

Katsuyama Eiheiji Line & Mikuni Awara Line
Etsumi-Hoku (Kuzuryū) Line
Fukui Railway Fukubu Line (Fukui-eki)

Morita 森田 59.9
Harue 春江 62.2 Sakai
Maruoka 丸岡 65.9
Awaraonsen 芦原温泉 71.7   Hokuriku Shinkansen Awara
Hosorogi 細呂木 75.5
Ushinoya 牛ノ谷 78.6
Daishōji 大聖寺 84.3 IR Ishikawa Railway Line Kaga Ishikawa
↓Through service to/from Kanazawa on the IR Ishikawa Railway Line↓

Rolling stock

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The company inherited 16 521 series EMU trainsets.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Hokuriku Shinkansen's Kanazawa-Tsuruga extension set to open Saturday". The Japan Times. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  2. ^ "並行在来線「ハピラインふくい」開業 記念グッズに目輝かせるファンも" [Parallel conventional line "Hapi-Line Fukui" opens as commemorative goods go on sale]. Fukui Keizai Shimbun. 16 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ ハピラインふくい,車両・駅名標デザインが決定 [Hapi-Line Fukui branding unveiled]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 September 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  4. ^ 新幹線並行在来線の準備会社発足 [Preparation company for Shinkansen parallel conventional lines established]. Fukui Shimbun (in Japanese). 14 August 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. ^ "会社情報" [About us]. hapi-line.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "福井県並行在来線経営計画" [Fukui Prefecture Parallel Conventional Line Management Plan] (PDF). hapi-line.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  7. ^ "ハピラインふくい快速は1日9本、福井―敦賀を最短38分 開業後のダイヤ公表、昼はパターン運行" [Happy Line Fukui Rapid runs 9 times a day, connecting Fukui and Tsuruga in as little as 38 minutes. Schedule will be announced after opening.]. Fukui Shimbun ONLINE (in Japanese). 12 January 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ "ハピラインふくい,開業ダイヤの概要を発表" [Hapi-Line Fukui announces outline of operating schedule.]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "【下り】 ハピラインふくい列車運転時刻表" (PDF). Hapi-Line Fukui (in Japanese). Japan. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b "【上り】 ハピラインふくい列車運転時刻表" (PDF). Hapi-Line Fukui (in Japanese). Japan. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  11. ^ "IRいしかわ鉄道 大聖寺~金沢間開業・ダイヤ改正" [IR Ishikawa Railway opens between Daishoji and Kanazawa accompanied with timetable revisions]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
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