JR West to increase Hokuriku Shinkansen services by 26% this autumn

JR West has announced plans to increase temporary Hokuriku Shinkansen services by 26.6% for the autumn season, running 985 extra trains between October 1 and November 30. This increase follows a 7% rise in passenger usage during the April-June period.

To accommodate high demand during holidays, the company will operate up to 29 trains per day, including services like ‘Kagayaki’, ‘Hakutaka’, and ‘Tsurugi’. Additionally, the ‘Thunderbird’ limited express will see 77 temporary services. The company also plans to increase some train lengths from nine to twelve cars on weekends.

In a move to support regional tourism, the ‘Hanayome no Noren’ sightseeing train on the Nanao Line will return to two round trips per day, up from its current single trip, as tourism demand in Wakura Onsen recovers.