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 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Electrification | 20 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary | ||
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (80 mph) | ||
| |||
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
- March 22, 1997: The segment from Morioka to Akita began operating with 5-car E3 series trains.
- 1998: Trains were extended to 6 cars.
- September 16, 2001: line celebrates 10 millionth passenger.
- March 11, 2006: line celebrates 20 millionth passenger.
- March 18, 2007: All cars are made no smoking.
- March 11, 2011: All services suspended due to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
- March 18, 2011: Partial service resumes between Morioka and Akita. No through service to Tōhoku Shinkansen.
- April 29, 2011: In conjunction with the reopening of the full length of the Tohoku Shinkansen, through service to Tokyo is restored.
- March 16, 2013: New E6 series trains were introduced on Super Komachi services, operating at 300 km/h (185 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.[2]
- March 15, 2014: All Komachi services operated by E6 series trains, operating at 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.[3]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akita Shinkansen. |
- JR Timetable, June 2009 issue
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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)
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