Hamato Express
| Hamato Express 浜豊急行 | |
|---|---|
 A Hamato Express Corporation Type-13 high-speed EMU in June 2020 at Yono Station | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Higher-speed rail |
| Locale | Chisei-Hinomoto |
| Termini | Toshima, Chisei Hamazaki, Fukui Region, Hinomoto |
| Stations | 7 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Owner | Chisei Royal Railway Corporation Yamatai National Railway Group |
| Rolling stock | Type-2000 Kai Type-13 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 320 km (200 mi) |
| Number of tracks | 2 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary |
| Operating speed | 165 km/h (105 mph) |
The Hamato Express (浜豊急行) is a high-speed rail line connecting Toshima, Chisei and Hamazaki, Hinomoto, via the Chisei-Hinomoto Tunnel. The line is owned and operated jointly by the Chisei Royal Railway Corporation and the Yamatai National Railway Group. It is the primary high-speed passenger rail service between Chisei and Hinomoto, and operates alongside vehicle and cargo-carrying services.
The Hamato Express was started in 1994, six years after the Chisei-Hinomoto Tunnel was opened. Since then, it has carried over 353 million passengers. However, as regional air travel costs decrease, ridership has slowed in recent years.
The service is operated by 24 Kawazaki Type-13 trainsets with sixteen coaches, and 11 Kanazawa T-2000 Kai trainsets with eighteen coaches. All Hamato Express trains run at up to 320 kilometres per hour on high-speed lines.