Aizu Liner

Japanese train service

*Aizu Liner*
Overview
Refurbished 485 series set G55/58 on an Aizu Liner service, March 2012
Service type	Rapid
Locale	Fukushima Prefecture
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Termini	Kōriyama Aizu-Wakamatsu
Average journey time	1 hour
Service frequency	3 return services daily
Line(s) used	Banetsu West Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard only
Technical
Rolling stock	485 series/583 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	20,000 V AC overhead
Operating speed	95 km/h (60 mph)

The Aizu Liner (あいづライナー) was a limited-stop "Rapid" train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between Kōriyama and Aizu-Wakamatsu on the Banetsu West Line in Fukushima Prefecture.^[1]

Service pattern

Services consist of three trains in each direction daily. Some trains are extended to run to and from Kitakata during busy seasons.^[2]

Station stops

Services stop at the following stations. Not all services stop at Kikuta Station.^[2]

Kōriyama - Kikuta - Bandai-Atami - Inawashiro - Bandaimachi - Aizu-Wakamatsu

Rolling stock

Services are normally formed of a 6-car 485 series limited express-type electric multiple unit (EMU) set number G55/58 based at Sendai Depot, sometimes substituted by a 6-car 583 series EMU (set N1/2).^[1]^[3] Prior to 25 February 2012, services were normally operated by Sendai-based 6-car 485 series set A1/2.^[3]^[4]

485 series set A1/2 in "Akabē" livery on an Aizu Liner service, May 2010
485 series set A1/2 repainted in JNR livery on an Aizu Liner service, June 2011
583 series EMU set N1/2 on an Aizu Liner working, September 2008

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Kōriyama end. Cars 5 and 6 are reserved-seating cars.^[1]

485 series

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuHa 481	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	MoHa 484	MoHa 485	KuHa 481
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved

583 series

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuHaNe 583	MoHaNe 582	MoHaNe 583	MoHaNe 582	MoHaNe 583	KuHaNe 583
Accommodation	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved

Interior of a 583 series set, with fixed 4-seat bays, May 2008

History

In June 2011, the Sendai-based 6-car 485 series EMU set A1/2 normally used on Aizu Liner services was repainted from its previous "Akabē" livery into JNR beige and maroon, returning to service from 2 June 2011.^[5]

From 25 February 2012, set A1/2 was replaced by 6-car set 485 series set G55/58, a refurbished set, transferred from Oyama Depot and previously used on Nikkō and Kinugawa services.^[3]

Regular Aizu Liner services were discontinued from the start of the revised timetable introduced on 14 March 2015.^[6] Seasonal rapid services, named simply Aizu operate during busy holiday periods, which used six-car 485 series EMU trainsets until the timetable revision in March 2020, at which point the service began to be operated with E721 series EMUs equipped with a reserved seat section.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 140. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
^ ^a ^b JR Timetable, August 2011 issue, pp. 660–661
^ ^a ^b ^c "あいづライナー”に485系ラッピング車両 [Decorated 485 series for "Aizu Liner"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^ JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2011. p. 26. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
^ 快速“あいづライナー"，485系国鉄色編成で運転開始 [JNR-liveried 485 series enters service on "Aizu Liner" rapid]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^ 2015年3月ダイヤ改正について [March 2015 timetable revision details] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company, Sendai Division. 19 December 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
^ 春の臨時列車のお知らせ [Details of additional spring train services] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company, Sendai Division. 23 January 2015. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 31 January 2015.