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681 series expansion

681-0 series

With the start of the revised timetable implemented on 14 March 2015, many of the 681-0 series sets formerly used on Thunderbird and Hakutaka services were re-deployed on Shirasagi services, replacing 683-2000 series sets formerly used on these services.

In 2024, 6-car set W08, which was damaged by the 2024 Noto earthquake, was retired.

681-1000 series

Being originally formed as a nine-car set, the set was split up into a six-car set and a three-car set. They were numbered T07 and T18 respectively at the time of their allocation to Kanazawa Depot. They were used for Thunderbird services. Upon its transfer to Kyoto Depot, set T18 was renumbered V01.

From March 2015 to June 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Kanazawa, the six-car set was temporarily used on Shirasagi services. It was subsequently transferred to Kyoto Depot to resume use on Thunderbird services as set W01. On the other hand, set V01 was scrapped in September 2015.

In October 2019, the six-car pre-production set was discontinued with five of its cars scrapped. The remaining lead car (KuRo 681-1001) had since been stored at Suita General Depot, but it was due to be scrapped in fiscal 2022.

681-2000 series

This is the designation given to two six-car sets (N01–N02) and two three-car sets (N11–N12) formerly operated by Hokuetsu Express and built in 1996 for use on then-new Hakutaka limited express services in tandem with the opening of the Hokuhoku Line from 22 March 1997. Following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa and the discontinuation of Hakutaka services on the Hokuhoku Line with the start of the revised timetable implemented on 14 March 2015, these sets were transferred to JR West and are currently used on Shirasagi services.