Locale Japan Current operator(s) JR West | Status Operational First service 14 March 2015 | |
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The Dinostar (ダイナスター, Dainasutā) is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Fukui and Kanazawa in Japan via the Hokuriku Main Line since 14 March 2015.
Contents
Service outline
Three return services operate daily between Fukui and Kanazawa, supplementing the existing Thunderbird services truncated with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa on 14 March 2015.
The name is a portmanteau derived from the English words "dinosaur" for which Fukui is famous and "star".
Rolling stock
The services use the 681 series and 683 series EMUs used on Thunderbird services.
Formations
Trains are normally formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Kanazawa (eastern) end. All cars are no-smoking.
From the start of the revised timetable introduced on 26 March 2016, some services (Dinostar 1 and 6) will operate as three-car formations with no Green car.
History
The name of the new train services was officially announced by JR West's Kanazawa Division on 7 October 2014.