Akita Shinkansen

Akita Shinkansen

E6 series Komachi train.
Overview
Native name 秋田新幹線
Type Mini-shinkansen
Locale Japan
Termini Morioka
Akita
Stations 11
Operation
Opening 22 March 1997
Owner JR East
Rolling stock E3 series (until March 2014), E6 series
Technical
Line length 127.3 km
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification 20 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Operating speed 130 km/h (80 mph)
Route Map (from Morioka in blue)

The Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) is a Mini-shinkansen high-speed rail line in Japan. Serving the Kantō and Tōhoku Regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita in Akita prefecture. From Tokyo to Morioka in Iwate prefecture, it operates on the Tohoku Shinkansen tracks. From Morioka to Ōmagari, it uses the Tazawako Line tracks. The section from Ōmagari to Akita use the Ōu Main Line tracks.

Operations

Services consist of Komachi trains formed of 7-car E6 series mini-shinkansen sets coupled with E5 series Hayabusa trains for the portion of the journey between Tokyo and Morioka.

The Komachi services run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and between Morioka and Akita, run as 7-car independent trains with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph).[1]

Stations

Between Tokyo and Morioka, the stations are the same as those on the Tohoku Shinkansen. From there on, the stations are as shown below.

Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
From Tokyo From Morioka
Morioka 盛岡 535.3 0.0 Tōhoku Shinkansen, Tōhoku Main Line, Yamada Line, Tazawako Line, Iwate Ginga Line Morioka Iwate Prefecture
Shizukuishi 雫石 552.9 16.0 Tazawako Line Shizukuishi
Tazawako 田沢湖 579.4 40.1 Tazawako Line Senboku Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate 角館 600.0 58.8 Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line
Ōmagari 大曲 618.5 75.6 Ōu Main Line, Tazawako Line Daisen
Akita 秋田 670.2 127.3 Ōu Main Line, Uetsu Main Line, Oga Line Akita

History

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akita Shinkansen.
  • JR Timetable, June 2009 issue
  1. "300km/hのトップランナー" [300 km/h Top Runners]. Japan Railfan Magazine (Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.) 52 (612): p.14. April 2012.
  2. 秋田新幹線の新しい列車名は"スーパーこまち"に [New trains on Akita Shinkansen to be named "Super Komachi"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  3. Yomiuri Shimbun: "JR東日本の新幹線 13年3月メドに「E6系」導入" (18 June 2009). Retrieved on 19 June 2009. (Japanese)