Kounotori (train)
The is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and in Japan since 12 March 2011. It replaced the previous Kitakinki services. The name means "stork", and was chosen because the stork is the prefectural bird of Hyōgo, and the city of Toyooka in particular has close involvement with stork breeding programmes. Service pattern and station stops 14 down services (Kounotori 1–27) from Shin-Osaka and 13 up services (Kounotori 2–26) to Shin-Osaka run daily, with the journey time from Shin-Osaka to Kinosaki Onsen taking approximately 2 hours 45 minutes. Kounotori services stop at the following stations. (Stations in parentheses are not served by all trains.) - - - - - () - () - - () - - () - - () - () - () - () - () Kounotori, Kinosaki, Hashidate, Maizuru, and Hamakaze constitute the of limited express services connecting the northern Kinki () region with the Keihanshin metropolitan area. Rolling stock The following rolling stock is used on Kounotori services. 287 series EMUs (since 12 March 2011) 289 series EMUs (from 31 October 2015) 289 series EMUs converted from former dual-voltage 683 series trainsets were introduced on Kounotori