Akita Shinkansen

Akita Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
	AnE6 seriestrainset on an Akita ShinkansenKomachiservice in October 2016.
Overview
Native name	Thu điền Shinkansen
Owner	JR East
Locale	IwateandAkitaprefectures
Termini	Morioka; Akita;
Stations	6
Service
Type	Mini-shinkansen
Services	Komachi
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	E6 series
History
Opened	22 March 1997;27 years ago
Technical
Line length	127.3 km (79.1 mi)
Number of tracks	Double-trackandSingle-track
Track gauge	1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in)standard gauge
Electrification	20 kV 50 Hz AC(overhead catenary)
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route Map (from Morioka in blue)
Route Map (from Morioka in blue)

TheAkita Shinkansen(Thu điền Shinkansen)is aMini-shinkansenrail line in Japan. Serving theKantōandTōhoku Regionsof the country, it linksTokyoandAkitainAkita prefecture.From Tokyo toMoriokainIwate prefecture,it operates on theTōhoku Shinkansentracks. From Morioka toŌmagari,it uses theTazawako Linetracks. The section from Ōmagari to Akita uses theŌu Main Linetracks.

Operations

Services consist ofKomachitrains which are 7-carE6 seriesmini-shinkansen sets coupled withE5 series Hayabusatrains for the portion of the journey between Tokyo and Morioka.

TheKomachiservices 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]However, 110 km/h (70 mph) is more typical for the line through the hills east of Akita, with trains frequently slowing to 90 km/h (55 mph) for curves such as those south of Ugo. The line from Morioka to Akita is prone to deep snow.

The fastest timetabled journey between Akita and Tokyo currently takes 3 hours and 37 minutes calling at four or five stops in between.

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
Station	Japanese	FromTokyo	FromMorioka	Transfers	Location
Morioka	Thịnh cương	535.3	0.0	Tōhoku Shinkansen(forShin-AomoriandShin-Hakodate-Hokuto) Tōhoku Main Line Yamada Line Tazawako Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	Morioka	Iwate Prefecture
Shizukuishi	雫 thạch	552.9	16.0	Tazawako Line	Shizukuishi	Iwate Prefecture
Tazawako	Điền trạch hồ	579.4	40.1	Tazawako Line	Senboku	Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate	Giác quán	600.0	58.8	Tazawako Line,Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line	Senboku
Ōmagari	Men	618.5	75.6	Ōu Main Line,Tazawako Line	Daisen
Akita	Thu điền	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-carE3 seriestrains.
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 theTohoku 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: NewE6 seriestrains were introduced onSuper Komachiservices, operating at 300 km/h (185 mph) on theTohoku Shinkansen.^[2]
March 15, 2014: AllKomachiservices operated by E6 series trains, operating at 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.^[3]
July 22, 2017: All services between Ōmagari and Akita suspended due to flooding after heavy rain falls.
July 29, 2017: Service resumes.
February 13, 2021: Services suspended north ofNasushiobara Stationdue to the2021 Fukushima earthquake.^[4]