First service 4 September 1994 Start Maibara | Current operator(s) JR West End Kansai Airport | |
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Service type Airport rail link
(Limited express) Locale Tokaido Main Line, Osaka Loop Line, Hanwa Line, Kansai Airport Line | ||
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).
Contents
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.
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).
6-car formations
6-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Maibara/Kyoto end.
All cars are no-smoking.
9-car formations
9-car formations are arranged as shown below, with car 1 at the Kyoto end.
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.
A free public Wi-Fi service is provided in the train.
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.