Hachiōji (train)

For the city, see Hachiōji.

Hachiōji

An E257 series EMU on a down evening Chūō Liner service in April 2008
Overview
Service type	Limited express (Since 16 March 2019) Liner (Before 16 March 2019)
Locale	Tokyo, Japan
First service	16 March 1991 (as Ohayō Liner Takao and Home Liner Takao) 1 December 2001 (as Chūō Liner) 16 March 2019 (as Hachioji)
Last service	15 March 2019 (Chūō Liner) 14 March 2025 (Hachiōji, planned)
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Termini	Tokyo Hachiōji
Stops	Shinjuku, Tachikawa
Line(s) used	Chūō Rapid Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Green + Standard class
Technical
Rolling stock	E353 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead

The Hachiōji (はちおうじ) is a limited express train service for commuters on the Chūō Rapid Line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The train operates on weekdays only. All seats are reserved on this train.

Prior to 16 March, 2019, this train operated as the Chūō Liner (中央ライナー), which was a limited-stop reserved-seat "Home Liner" service. Since 16 March, 2019, the Chūō Liner has been upgraded to limited express status and become known as the Hachiōji.

Service outline

Current services

Morning

• Hachiōji 2: Hachiōji to Tokyo
• Hachiōji 4: Hachiōji to Tokyo

Evening

• Hachiōji 1: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Hachiōji 3: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Hachiōji 5: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Hachiōji 7: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Hachiōji 9: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Hachiōji 11: Tokyo to Hachiōji

As Chūō Liner

Morning

• Chūō Liner 2: Hachiōji to Tokyo
• Chūō Liner 4: Takao to Tokyo

Evening

• Chūō Liner 1: Tokyo to Takao
• Chūō Liner 3: Tokyo to Takao
• Chūō Liner 5: Tokyo to Takao
• Chūō Liner 7: Tokyo to Hachiōji
• Chūō Liner 9: Tokyo to Takao

History

JR East announced a new timetable revision which took effect from March 2019 onwards. It announced the discontinuation of the Chūō Liner and the Ōme Liner, which was replaced by two new limited express services, the Hachiōji (はちおうじ) and the Ōme (おうめ) respectively. The Hachiōji operates in a similar pattern as the former Chūō Liner, with two Tokyo-bound trains during the morning rush, and six Hachiōji-bound trains during the evening rush. With this, a new ticketing system is now implemented, in which limited express tickets can be purchased in advance, unlike the Liner tickets which can only be bought on the day of boarding.

However, as the Green Car service will be commenced on the commuter trains of Chūō and Ōme lines, another timetable revision which took effect from 15 March 2025 was announced. In this revision, the Hachiōji along with Ōme limited express services will be discontinued after 6 years of operation.

Rolling stock

183 series EMU displaying Chūō Liner headboard panel

Current rolling stock

• E353 series (since March 16, 2019)

Past rolling stock

• 183 series 9-car EMUs (from March 16, 1991, until March 16, 2008)
• E351 series 12-car EMUs (since March 15, 2008 until March 16, 2018)
• E257 series 9- or 11-car EMUs (since July 1, 2002 until March 15, 2019)

Formations

Past formations

Chūō Liner E257 series

←Tokyo/Shinjuku						Hachiōji/Takao→
1	2	-	3	4	5	6	7	8		9	10	11
Reserved	Reserved	-	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Re	Grn	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved

Chūō Liner E351 series

←Tokyo/Shinjuku

Hachiōji→

1 Reserved

2 Reserved

3 Reserved

4 Reserved

-

5 Reserved

6 Reserved

7 Reserved

8 Reserved

9 Green

10 Reserved

11 Reserved

12 Reserved

See also

• Ōme (train), formerly Ōme Liner, a similar limited express service
• List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

• JR Timetable, March 2008 issue
• "2008 年3 月ダイヤ改正について" JR East Hachiōji Branch news release, 20 December 2007 (in Japanese)