Tsubame (train)

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Tsubame
JNR
Route
TerminiHakata
Kumamoto or Kagoshima-Chūō
On-board services
Class(es)Ordinary class + Green class
Catering facilitiesTrolley refreshment service
Technical
Rolling stock800 series/N700-7000 series/N700-8000 series
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification25 kV AC, 60 Hz
Operating speed260 km/h (160 mph)[1]

The Tsubame (つばめ) is a train service operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) on the Kyushu Shinkansen in Japan since 2004.[1]

The word tsubame (燕) in Japanese means "

Sanyo Main Line in Japan since 1930.[2]

History

Pre-war

The Tsubame name (originally written as "燕") was first used from 1 October 1930 for limited express services operating between

Kobe, hauled by JNR Class C51 and JNR Class C53 steam locomotives. These services operated until 30 September 1943.[2]

Post-war

The name was revived (this time written as "つばめ") from 1 January 1950 for limited express services operating between Tokyo and

481 and 583 series EMUs. These services continued until 9 March 1975 (when the San'yō Shinkansen was fully in operation).[2]

JR Kyushu

The Tsubame name was once again revived by

Mojiko/Hakata and Nishi-Kagoshima (now Kagoshima-Chūō Station), operated using new 787 series EMUs in 6-, 7-, or 11-car formations.[2][3]
These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen opened.

Relay Tsubame

A 787 series Relay Tsubame train (left) and 800 series Tsubame shinkansen train (right) at Shin-Yatsushiro Station in June 2010

With the start of services on the Kyushu Shinkansen between Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chūō from 13 March 2004, new Relay Tsubame services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line between Hakata and Shin-Yatsushiro using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations.[1] The operation of the Relay Tsubame service was unique, as it was the only station in Japan where normal trains stopped at platforms adjacent to the shinkansen platforms. This was to facilitate transfer of passengers from shinkansen to Relay Tsubame and vice versa. Normally, shinkansen platforms are physically separated from normal train platforms with fare gates and may be at a different level (usually above the normal train platforms).

When the remainder of the Kyushu Shinkansen was opened on 12 March 2011, the Tsubame became an all-stations service (similar to the Kodama on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen), operating primarily as shuttle services between Hakata and Kumamoto. Services operate twice per hour in each direction during the morning and evening, and once per hour during the middle of the day. Some Tsubame services also run to/from Kagoshima-Chūō.[4]

Rolling stock

Shinkansen train services are formed of eight-car

N700 series (JR West N700-7000 series and JR Kyushu N700-8000 series) trains or six-car JR Kyushu 800 series
trains.

  • A JR Kyushu 800 series train set in January 2022
    A JR Kyushu 800 series train set in January 2022
  • A JR West N700-7000 series trainset
    A JR West N700-7000 series trainset
  • A JR Kyushu N700-8000 series trainset
    A JR Kyushu N700-8000 series trainset

Formations

N700 series

Eight-car

N700 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. Cars 1 to 3 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, and cars 4 to 8 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating. Half of car 6 has "Green car" (first class) 2+2 seating. All cars are no-smoking except for smoking compartments in cars 3 and 7.[5]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Accommodation Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Green Reserved Reserved

On some train services, cars 4 and 5 are also non-reserved.[5]

  • N700-7000 series Green car interior
    N700-7000 series Green car interior
  • N700-7000 series standard-class reserved car interior
    N700-7000 series standard-class reserved car interior
  • N700-7000 series standard-class non-reserved car interior
    N700-7000 series standard-class non-reserved car interior

800 series

Six-car 800 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. All accommodation is ordinary class with 2+2 seating. All cars are no-smoking.[5]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Accommodation Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved

On some train services, car 4 is also non-reserved.[5]

  • Interior of an 800 series car
    Interior of an 800 series car

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6
    .
  2. ^ a b c d 列車名鑑1995 [1995 Train Name Directory] (in Japanese). Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995.
  3. ISBN 4-87149-284-2
    .
  4. ^ 平成23年春ダイヤ改正 [Spring 2011 timetable revision] (Press release) (in Japanese). JR Kyushu. 17 December 2010. Archived from the original on 20 December 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
  5. ^
    EAN 4910053110259
    .

External links

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