Background and overview
The construction of the Hokuhoku line allowed 160km/h operation, linking Muikamachi station on Joetsu line and Saigata station on Shinetsu line, was completed in order to be served as the principal link between the Tokyo metropolitan area and the Hokuriku region in 1997. Hokuetsu Express operating the Hokuhoku line decided to introduce the intercity dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trainset, 681 series, the maximum speed of which was 160km/h, developed by JR west, and classified into -2000 subseries. Their formation are 6-car sets consisting of 2 motored cars and 4 trailer cars, and 3-car sets consisting of 1 motored car and 2 trailer cars, likewise 681-0 series. Hokuetsu Express delivered two 6-car sets and two 3-car sets, including gangwayed end cars.
Car body
Their body is same as that of 681-0 series. They include minor difference in featuring airtight structure. The doorway is equipped with cylinder pressing the door against the body in order to reduce the fluctuation of atmospheric pressure in the passenger saloon. Their livery is different from 681-0 series. Their livery was white with crimson-red and aqua-blue band under side windows, crimson-red narrow band at the bottom of their body, and aqua-blue band at the top of their body. "Snow Rabbit Express" logos were applied to the sides of their body.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
AC 3-phase asynchronous motors with a power output of 220kW on each driven
axle give a maximum service speed of 160km/h and the acceleration performance
at 160km/h is 0.2 km/h/s. Bogies and other facilities are same as those
of 681-0 series, excepting the addition of ATS-P signaling system and transponder
to get the permission signal to travel at 160km/h.
Operations
Although 681-2000 series EMU had been used on the "Hakutaka" intercity services linking Echigo-Yuzawa and Kanazawa via Hokuhoku line of Hokuetsu Express, "Hakutaka" intercity services via conventional lines were discontinued at the start of the operations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa. All of 681-2000 series EMU were transferred to the ownership of JR West in 2015.
Latest operation status
Their livery was changed into that of 681-0 series and they are now used on the "Shirasagi" intercity services linking Nagoya and Kanazawa. |
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