Revival of Takayama Line Rapid Service! JR Central Temporary Operation (Oct 2025)
Table of Contents
- Partial Suspension of Takayama Main Line Limited Express "Hida" Due to Vehicle Damage!
- Temporary Rapid Train Service to Compensate for "Hida" Suspension!
- Conclusion
1. Partial Suspension of Takayama Main Line Limited Express "Hida" Due to Vehicle Damage!
In the temporary timetable operation by JR Central in October 2025, some temporary trains of the Takayama Main Line Limited Express "Hida" will be suspended due to vehicle shortages.
This situation resulted from a level crossing accident on October 2, 2025, which rendered 8 cars of HC85 series diesel cars used for the Takayama Main Line Limited Express "Hida" inoperable.
Under normal timetable conditions, vehicle scheduling could be managed without issues. However, during weekends, especially three-day holiday periods, vehicle rotation becomes insufficient, leading to reduced car formations and suspension of temporary train services.
The suspended "Hida" trains listed on JR Central's website are as follows:
JR Central plans to supplement the fleet by March 2028 with additional HC85 series diesel cars for the Takayama Main Line Limited Express "Hida" - one 4-car set and one 2-car set, totaling 6 cars. This addition should minimize future suspensions of temporary trains in similar circumstances.
2. Temporary Rapid Train Service to Compensate for "Hida" Suspension!
However, in the temporary train operation on the Takayama Main Line by JR Central on October 9, 2025, temporary rapid trains with non-reserved seating only will operate between Nagoya and Takayama as substitutes for the suspended "Hida" limited express services.
The operation will consist of one round-trip: the temporary rapid train departing from Nagoya at 13:38 bound for Takayama, and the return trip departing from Takayama at 17:38 bound for Nagoya on October 9, 2025. As these trains substitute for limited express services, they will stop only at stations served by the "Hida" express: Gifu, Mino-Ōta, and Gujō. With all seats being non-reserved, passengers can board with fare payment only.
Considering operational characteristics based on vehicle performance, the service will likely use KiHa 75 series with cross-seating rather than KiHa 25 series with longitudinal seating.
Although KiHa 75 series trains normally operate only as far as Gujō on the Takayama Main Line, this temporary service will extend their operation to Takayama station.
3. Conclusion
In the October 2025 temporary train operations by JR Central, partial suspension of some temporary "Hida" limited express services on the Takayama Main Line occurred due to vehicle damage, while temporary rapid train services were established as a compensatory measure.
As JR Central proceeds with supplementing the HC85 series diesel car fleet for the "Hida" limited express, we will continue to monitor what kind of timetable revisions the company implements in the future.
