Yamagata Shinkansen

Yamagata Shinkansen
E3-2000 series train between Takahata and Akayu
Overview
Type	Mini-shinkansen
Locale	Japan
Termini	Fukushima Shinjō
Stations	11
Operation
Opened	1 July 1992
Owner	JR East
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	E3-1000 series/E3-2000 series
Technical
Line length	148.6 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)
Route Map (from Fukushima in blue)

The Yamagata Shinkansen (山形新幹線) is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tōhoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line.

The term Yamagata Shinkansen refers to the segment that connects Fukushima in Fukushima Prefecture and Shinjō. Because the shinkansen trains share tracks with regular service trains, it is often referred to as a "mini-shinkansen".

Operations

E3-2000 series (left) and E3-1000 series (right) at Shinjō

Yamagata Shinkansen (bottom right) diverging from the Tōhoku Shinkansen (vertical center) at Fukushima

Trains consist of 7-car E3 series trainsets operating as Tsubasa services. Between Tokyo and Fukushima, the trains run coupled to Yamabiko trains on the Tōhoku Shinkansen. Between Fukushima and Shinjō, the trains run on their own at a maximum speed of 130 km/h and share the line with regular Ōu Main Line trains.

As of July 2012, about 62 million passengers have ridden the line since July 1992. In 2010, Series E3 trains began to be used on the line, with the fastest train running from Tokyo to Yamagata stations in two hours and 29 minutes.

History

• July 1, 1992: Tsubasa services start from Tokyo to Yamagata with six-car 400 Series Shinkansen attached to a 200 Series Shinkansen on Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Fukushima.
• December 1, 1995: Trains are extended to seven cars.
• December 4, 1999: Line is extended to Shinjō.
• September 21, 2001: Double-decker E4 Series Shinkansen replace the 200 series trains on the Tōhoku Shinkansen.
• March 18, 2007: All cars are made non-smoking.
• December 20, 2008: E3-2000 series trains commence operation.
• April 18, 2010: 400 series trains cease operations.
• March 11, 2011: All services are suspended due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
• March 31, 2011: Partial services resume between Fukushima and Shinjō.
• April 12, 2011: Through-service resumed between Tokyo and Shinjō but at half of previous capacity.

Station list

• All stations listed below are located on the Ōu Main Line.
• Beyond Fukushima, trains bound for Tōkyō run with Tōhoku Shinkansen trains.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
		From Tōkyō	From Fukushima
Fukushima	福島	272.8	0.0	Tōhoku Shinkansen, Tōhoku Main Line AbukumaExpress: Abukuma Express Line Fukushima Transportation: Iizaka Line	Fukushima	Fukushima
Yonezawa	米沢	312.9	40.1	Yonesaka Line	Yonezawa	Yamagata
Takahata	高畠	322.7	49.9		Takahata, Higashiokitama District
Akayu	赤湯	328.9	56.1	Flower Nagai Line	Nanyō
Kaminoyama-Onsen	かみのやま温泉	347.8	75.0		Kaminoyama
Yamagata	山形	359.9	87.1		Yamagata
Tendō	天童	373.2	100.4		Tendō
Sakurambo-Higashine	さくらんぼ東根	380.9	108.1		Higashine
Murayama	村山	386.3	113.5		Murayama
Ōishida	大石田	399.7	126.9		Ōishida, Kitamurayama District
Shinjō	新庄	421.4	148.6	Ōu Main Line, Rikuu East Line, Rikuu West Line	Shinjō

See also

• Media related to Yamagata Shinkansen at Wikimedia Commons

External links

• Stations of Yamagata Shinkansen (JR East) (Japanese)