373 series EMU on a Tōkai service, March 2006 | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Limited express (from 1996) |
First service | 1955 (Semi express) 1996 (Limited express Wide View Tōkai) |
Last service | 2007 |
Current operator(s) |
JR East ( Tokyo– Atami) JR Central ( Atami– Shizuoka) |
Route | |
Line(s) used | Tōkaidō Main Line |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | 373 series (1996–2007) |
The Tōkai (東海) was a limited express service which connected Tokyo Station and Shizuoka Station in Japan. The service was discontinued in March 2007 due to declining passenger numbers.
Trains stopped at the following stations:
Tokyo – Shinagawa – Kawasaki – Yokohama – Ōfuna – Hiratsuka – Odawara – Yugawara – Atami – Mishima – Numazu – Fuji – Shimizu – Shizuoka
The Tōkai service was first introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 20 July 1955 as a locomotive-hauled semi express train operating between Tokyo and Nagoya. The train was upgraded to "express" status from 5 March 1966. [2] From 16 March 1996, the service was upgraded to become the limited express Wide View Tōkai using pairs of new 373 series 3-car EMU trainsets, with two return workings daily between Tokyo and Shizuoka. [3]