The "Thunderbird" limited express train used to run directly from Kyoto to Kanazawa Station (and partly to Wakuraonsen Station), but after March 16 all trains will stop at Tsuruga Station, requiring a transfer at the same station. The station is designed so that passengers can smoothly transfer through the ticket gates on the second floor. The station building is equipped with 26 escalators and 6 elevators, making it safe for the elderly, children, and people with a lot of luggage.

In the new schedule from March 16, all 25 round trips/day of the "Thunderbird" limited express trains will connect at Tsuruga Station to the Hokuriku Shinkansen "Tsurugi" trains departing from or arriving at Kanazawa or Toyama Stations. This will result in a significant time savings of up to 20 minutes or more, especially when heading to Kanazawa Station or Toyama Station beyond.

Fares including limited express fares (reserved seats) will be 5930 yen between Kyoto and Fukui and 7720 yen between Kyoto and Kanazawa, 230 to 900 yen higher than the current fare from Tsuruga to Kanazawa stations. On the other hand, the fare between Kyoto and Toyama will be 8,820 yen, 220 yen lower than the current fare.

Special tickets are also available for the more expensive sections, so take advantage of these discount tickets and enjoy a quick and comfortable ride on the Hokuriku Shinkansen to visit Hokuriku in spring.