Hayate (train)

Hayate

E5 series set U6 on a Hayate service, November 2011
Overview
Service type Shinkansen
Locale Honshu, Japan
First service 1 December 2002
Current operator(s) JR East
Route
Start Tokyo
End Shin-Aomori
Distance travelled 674.9 km (419.4 mi)
Service frequency Hourly
Line used Tohoku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es) Standard + Green + Gran Class
Catering facilities Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock E2 series, E5 series
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification 25 kV AC overhead
Operating speed 275 km/h (170 mph)

Hayate (はやて) is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated on the Tohoku Shinkansen in Japan by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since 2002. It operates as far as the northern terminus of Shin-Aomori, and it is the second-fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen, operating at a top speed of 275 km/h (170 mph) between Utsunomiya and Morioka. These services were inaugurated with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe on 1 December 2002.[1]

The name "Hayate" has not been used previously on any train service in Japan. The name was chosen with input from the public; roughly translated, it means a strong or violent wind; however, it carries positive connotations of speed and power.

Service pattern

From its introduction in 2002, the Hayate service used 10-car E2 Series Shinkansen units. With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to the new northern terminus of Shin-Aomori from 4 December 2010, 15 return trips a day operating between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori, with one return trip between Sendai and Shin-Aomori and one return trip between Morioka and Shin-Aomori. The fastest service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori is 3 hours 20 minutes.[2]

From 19 November 2011, E5 series trainsets were also introduced on some Hayate services. These services are limited to the current maximum speed of 275 km/h.[3]

Hayate services are coupled with Komachi services as far as Morioka, where the Komachi cars are uncoupled and proceed to Akita Station via the Akita Shinkansen. Due to the popularity of the fast train service from Tokyo to the Tōhoku region, seat reservations are compulsory on both the Hayate and Komachi.

Stations

Hayate services stop at the following stations.

(*) These stations are not served by all trains.

Train formations

E2 series Hayate at Iwate-Numakunai Station, March 2007

Hayate services are operated by 10-car E2 series or E5 series trainsets, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. All seats are reserved and no-smoking.[4]

E2 series Hayate

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Class Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Green Standard
Facilities       Cardphone       Cardphone Wheelchair space Wheelchair space

E5 series Hayate

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Class Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Standard Green Gran Class
Facilities     Cardphone   Cardphone/
Wheelchair space 		      Wheelchair space  

Future developments

From spring 2016, with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hayate name will be used for services operating between Morioka, Shin-Aomori, and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 16. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  2. ↑ 東北新幹線 新青森開業における運転時刻について [Details of timetable following opening of Shin-Aomori Station] (PDF) (in Japanese). East Japan Railway Company. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
  3. ↑ 東北新幹線「はやぶさ」に投入しているＥ５系車両を「はやて」「やまびこ」に導入！ [Tohoku Shinkansen "Hayabusa" E5 series trains to be introduced on "Hayate" and "Yamabiko" services] (PDF). Press release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 12 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. ↑ JR Timetable, August 2011 issue. p.999
  5. ↑ 北海道新幹線の列車名決定について [Details of Hokkaido Shinkansen train names] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.

External links