Kodama (train)

Kodama (こだま^?) is one of the three train services running on the Tōkaidō/Sanyō Shinkansen. Kodama trains stop at all stations, making Kodama the slowest Shinkansen service for trips between major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The Kodama trains are used primarily for travel to and from smaller cities such as Atami. Travelers between major cities generally take the Nozomi or Hikari services, which make fewer stops. The name of the train comes from the Japanese word kodama, meaning "echo".

Shinkansen Kodama

Kodama trains generally run over shorter distances than Nozomi and Hikari trains. Typical Kodama runs include Tokyo - Nagoya, Tokyo - Shin-Osaka, Shizuoka - Shin-Osaka, Shin-Osaka - Okayama, Shin-Osaka - Hiroshima, Okayama - Hakata and Hiroshima - Hakata, as well as some shorter late-night runs.

The trainsets used for Kodama service are the same 300 series, 700 series, and N700 series trains used for the Hikari and Nozomi services. Older 100 series trains are also used for Kodama services on the Sanyō Shinkansen. In December 2008, reconfigured 500 series trains entered Kodama service to replace the withdrawn Sanyō Shinkansen 0 series trains. Many Sanyō Shinkansen Kodama services continue to and from Hakata-Minami on the Hakata-Minami Line.

Most Kodama trains have both reserved and non-reserved cars; however, some morning Kodama trains to Tokyo and evening trains departing Tokyo have non-reserved cars only to accommodate commuters living in Kanagawa and Shizuoka.

The newest shinkansen trainset, the N700, is currently used on some early morning and late night Kodama runs between Kokura and Hakata stations in Kyūshū. All standard-class cars are non-reserved, and, as with all other N700 services, there is no smoking on these trains except in designated on-board smoking rooms.

At most intermediate stations, Kodama trains wait for faster trains, such as the Nozomi, Hikari and Hikari Rail Star, to pass through before resuming their journeys.

Formations

N700 series (16 cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments located in cars 3, 7, 10, and 15.)

300/700 series (16 cars)

500 series (8 cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments in cars 3 and 7.)

N700 series (8 cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments in cars 3 and 7.)

700 series (8 cars)

100 series (6 cars)

• G: Green car (first class) (reserved seating)
• R: Standard class reserved seating
• C: Standard class reserved seating + compartments
• NR: Standard class non-reserved seating
• NS: Non-smoking seats
• S: Smoking seats

History

Limited express Kodama

Kodama debuted as a limited express service on the Tōkaidō Main Line on November 1, 1958. Services used 151 series trainsets. This was the first EMU train service of the Japanese National Railways classified as a limited express, the highest (fastest) of train types on the national railway system. The train travelled between Tokyo Station and Osaka Station in 6 hours and 50 minutes and first enabled passengers to go and return between the two cities in one day. This is why the train was named Kodama, or echo.

A narrow gauge world speed record of 163 km/h was established by a 151 series Kodama trainset on July 31, 1959.^[2] The conventional Kodama train ran until September 30, 1964, the day before Kodama debuted on the Shinkansen.

Shinkansen Kodama

The shinkansen Kodama services began on 1 October 1964, operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, the remaining 100 series (K) sets are scheduled to be withdrawn from Kodama services. From the same date, 700 series (8-car E set) Kodama services will become entirely no-smoking.^[3]

References