Tokyo and Kanazawa will be linked by 24 trains per direction per day, with the fastest trains completing the 345.4km trip in 2h 28min. This compares with 3h 47min via the present route which involves taking a Joetsu Shinkansen train from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa and connecting with a 1067mm-gauge train on the Hokuetsu Kyuko line which has a maximum speed of 160km/h.

There will also be 18 trains per direction per day between Toyama and Kanazawa, 16 from Tokyo to Nagano, and one from Nagano to Kanazawa.

All services will be operated by the new fleet of 27 12-car series 7 Shinkansen trains procured jointly by JR East and JR West, with the exception of some Tokyo – Nagano services, which will be worked by eight-car series E8 sets.