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:Tōhoku Shinkansen

{{Short description|Japanese Shinkansen (high-speed railway) line}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width =

| name = Tōhoku Shinkansen

| native_name = 東北新幹線

| native_name_lang = ja

| color = {{rcr|JR East|Tohoku Shinkansen}}

| mapcolor = {{rcb|JR East|Tohoku Shinkansen|box}} Green (#{{rcr|JR East|Tohoku Shinkansen}})

| logo = Shinkansen jre.svg

| logo_width = 50

| image = Series-E5-U2 Hayabusa-30.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| caption = E5 Series Shinkansen set U2 coupled to an E6 Series Shinkansen set on a Hayabusa service towards Tokyo, August 2023

| type = High-speed rail (Shinkansen)

| system = Shinkansen

| status = Operational

| routes = {{plainlist|

}}

| locale = Tokyo; Saitama, Tochigi, Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori Prefectures

| start = {{STN|Tokyo|x}}

| end = {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}}

| stations = 23

| daily_ridership =

| open = {{start date and age|1982|06|23|df=y}} ({{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}} – {{STN|Morioka|x}})
{{start date and age|2010|12|04|df=y}} (Full line)

| close =

| owner = {{plainlist|

  • {{ric|JR East|name=y}} (From Tōkyō to Morioka)
  • 20px JRTT (From Morioka to Shin-Aomori)

}}

| operator = {{ric|JR East}} JR East

| character =

| depot = Tokyo, Oyama, Nasushiobara, Sendai, Morioka, Shin-Aomori

| stock = {{Plainlist|

}}

| linelength = {{cvt|674.9|km}}

| minradius = {{cvt|4000|m|mi ft}}

| signalling = Cab signalling

| trainprotection = DS-ATC

| tracks = Double-track

| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}

| electrification = {{25 kV 50 Hz|conductor=overhead}}

| speed = {{cvt|110|km/h}} (Tokyo to Ueno),{{Cite web|title=JR East to speed up Tohoku Shinkansen|date=2020-10-12|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/jr-east-to-speed-up-tohoku-shinkansen/57556.article|access-date=2021-08-21|website=Railway Gazette International|language=en}} {{cvt|130|km/h}} (Ueno to Omiya) {{cvt|320|km/h}}
Around 2030:
{{cvt|360|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}{{Cite web|title=The Fastest Train in Japan|url=https://www.jrpass.com/Fast-Trains-Maglev-Trains#:~:text=As%20for%20the%20fastest%20speeds,almost%20double%20regular%20shinkansen%20speeds..article|access-date=2025-03-22|website=JR PASS|language=en}}

| elevation =

| map = 240px

| map_state = show

}}

The {{Nihongo|Tōhoku Shinkansen|東北新幹線}} is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen rail line that runs through the more sparsely populated Tōhoku region of Japan's main island, Honshu. Operated by the East Japan Railway Company, it links Tokyo in the south to Aomori in the north, with stops in population centers such as Morioka, Koriyama, Fukushima, Hachinohe, and Sendai. With a route length of {{convert|674.9|km|abbr=on}}, it is Japan's longest Shinkansen line. It also has the highest operating speeds on the Shinkansen network, reaching a maximum of {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|0|round=|abbr=on}} on a {{convert|387.5|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} section between Utsunomiya and Morioka.

The first section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened in 1982 between Ōmiya and Morioka, with additional sections gradually built over the following decades; the final section between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori was completed in 2010. A continuation of the line opened as the Hokkaido Shinkansen in 2016, which links Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto via the Seikan Tunnel. The Tōhoku Shinkansen also has two Mini-Shinkansen branch lines, the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen. Future plans include ongoing upgrade work to increase operating speeds throughout the line.

Four services currently operate on the Tōhoku Shinkansen, the all-stop Nasuno, and the limited-stop Yamabiko, Hayate, and Hayabusa, with the latter two providing through service onto the Hokkaido Shinkansen. As of 2021, the fastest travel times between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori are on the Hayabusa service, at 2 hours and 58 minutes.JR East timetable revision: [https://web.archive.org/web/20201218071035/https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2020/20201218_ho01.pdf "2021年3月ダイヤ改正について" (18 December 2020)]. Retrieved on 5 September 2024. {{in lang|ja}} The Mini-Shinkansen also provides through service from Tokyo via the Tōhoku Shinkansen; typically, Tsubasa and Komachi trains are coupled to Hayabusa, Yamabiko, or Nasuno trains at Tokyo and are decoupled at Fukushima and Morioka respectively, where they continue on to their Mini-Shinkansen lines.

Services

There are four services in operation:

  • Hayabusa, Tokyo – Shin-Aomori/Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto limited-stop, starting 5 March 2011
  • Hayate, Morioka/Shin-Aomori – Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto limited-stop, starting 26 March 2016 (the name has been in use since 1 December 2002)
  • Yamabiko, Tokyo – Sendai limited-stop, and all-stations to Morioka, starting June 1982
  • Nasuno, Tokyo – Oyama/Nasushiobara/Kōriyama all-stations, starting 1995

One service has been discontinued:

  • Aoba, Tokyo – Sendai all-stations, June 1982 – October 1997 (consolidated with Nasuno)

Through trains on the Akita Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen lines also run on Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks from Morioka and Fukushima respectively.

As of March 2021, the maximum line speed is {{Convert|110|km/h|mph|round=|abbr=on}} between Tokyo and Ueno, {{Convert|130|km/h|mph|round=|abbr=on}} between Ueno and Ōmiya, {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|round=|abbr=on}} between Ōmiya and Utsunomiya, {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|0|round=|abbr=on}} between Utsunomiya and Morioka, and {{Convert|260|km/h|mph|0|round=|abbr=on}} between Morioka and Shin-Aomori.{{cite magazine| title = 300km/hのトップランナー|trans-title= 300 km/h Top Runners|magazine=Japan Railfan Magazine| volume = 52| issue = 612| page =14| publisher = Kōyūsha Co., Ltd.| location = Japan| date = April 2012}}JR East press release: [http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2008/20081107.pdf "東北新幹線八戸〜新青森間の開業時期について" (10 November 2008)]. Retrieved on 11 November 2008. {{in lang|ja}}

On 30 October 2012, JR East announced that it is pursuing research and development to increase speeds to {{convert|360|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen.{{cite web|url=http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2012/20121013.pdf |script-title=ja:グループ経営構想V |trans-title=Group Business Vision V |date=30 October 2012 |publisher=East Japan Railway Company |location=Japan |page=5 |language=ja |access-date=17 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202011722/http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2012/20121013.pdf |archive-date=December 2, 2012 }} Work seems to be ongoing to upgrade the section between Morioka and Shin-Aomori to {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|0|round=|abbr=on}}, primarily in the form of improved sound barriers. This should make operating at {{convert|360|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} possible, if the improved noise dampening techniques being tested using the ALFA-X test train are successful.{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/kobayashitakuya/20190126-00112380/|title=東北新幹線、盛岡〜新青森間を時速320キロへ 高速化への挑戦(小林拓矢) – Yahoo!ニュース|website=Yahoo!ニュース 個人|language=ja|access-date=2019-02-14}} Upgrade works on this section started in October 2020, and are expected to take seven years to complete.{{Cite press release|title=新幹線の速度向上に向けた取り組みについて|publisher=東日本旅客鉄道|date=2020-10-06|url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2020/20201006_ho01.pdf|access-date=2020-10-06|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201006070413/https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2020/20201006_ho01.pdf|archivedate=2020-10-06}}

List of stations

{{GeoGroup|article=Category:Tōhoku_Shinkansen}}

Legend:

class="wikitable"

! ●

| All trains stop

▲

| Some trains stop

|

| All trains pass

class="wikitable"
Station

!Japanese

!Distance (km)

!Nasuno

!Yamabiko

!Hayabusa

!Hayate

!Transfers

! colspan="2" |Location

{{STN|Tokyo|x}}

|{{lang|ja|東京}}

| align="center" |0.0

|●

|●

|●

| rowspan="17" |

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Chiyoda

| rowspan="2" |Tokyo

{{STN|Ueno|x}}

|{{lang|ja|上野}}

| align="center" |3.6

|●

|▲

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Taitō

{{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}}

|{{lang|ja|大宮}}

| align="center" |31.3

|●

|●

|●

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Ōmiya-ku

|Saitama
Prefecture

{{STN|Oyama|x}}

|{{lang|ja|小山}}

| align="center" |80.3

|●

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Oyama

| rowspan="3" |Tochigi
Prefecture

{{STN|Utsunomiya|x}}

|{{lang|ja|宇都宮}}

| align="center" |109.0

|●

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Utsunomiya

{{STN|Nasushiobara|x}}

|{{lang|ja|那須塩原}}

| align="center" |152.4

|●

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

  • {{JRLS|JU}} Utsunomiya Line

}}

|Nasushiobara

{{STN|Shin-Shirakawa|x}}

|{{lang|ja|新白河}}

| align="center" |178.4

|●

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Nishigō

| rowspan="3" |Fukushima
Prefecture

{{STN|Kōriyama|x|Fukushima}}

|{{lang|ja|郡山}}

| align="center" |213.9

|●

|▲

|{{Plainlist|

}}

|Kōriyama

{{STN|Fukushima|x|Fukushima}}

|{{lang|ja|福島}}

| align="center" |255.1

| rowspan="15" |

|●

|{{Plainlist|

  • {{Colorbull|#ee7b28}} Yamagata Shinkansen
  • {{Colorbull|mediumseagreen}} Tōhoku Main Line
  • {{Colorbull|#ee7b28
} Yamagata Line (Ōu Main Line)
  • {{Colorbull|blue}} Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka Line
  • {{Colorbull|deepskyblue}} Abukuma Express Line

    • }}

    |Fukushima

    |-

    |{{STN|Shiroishi-Zaō|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|白石蔵王}}

    | align="center" |286.2

    |▲

    ||

    |

    |Shiroishi

    | rowspan="4" |Miyagi
    Prefecture

    |-

    |{{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}}

    |{{lang|ja|仙台}}

    | align="center" |325.4

    |●

    |●

    |{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Aoba-ku,
    Sendai

    |-

    |{{STN|Furukawa|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|古川}}

    | align="center" |363.8

    |●

    |▲

    |{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Ōsaki

    |-

    |{{STN|Kurikoma-Kōgen|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|くりこま高原}}

    | align="center" |385.7

    |●

    |▲

    |

    |Kurihara

    |-

    |{{STN|Ichinoseki|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|一ノ関}}

    | align="center" |406.3

    |●

    |▲

    |{{Plainlist|

    • {{Colorbull|mediumseagreen}} Tōhoku Main Line
    • {{Colorbull|#f18e44}} Ōfunato Line

    }}

    |Ichinoseki

    | rowspan="7" |Iwate
    Prefecture

    |-

    |{{STN|Mizusawa-Esashi|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|水沢江刺}}

    | align="center" |431.3

    |●

    |▲

    |

    |Ōshū

    |-

    |{{STN|Kitakami|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|北上}}

    | align="center" |448.6

    |●

    |▲

    |{{Plainlist|

    • {{Colorbull|mediumseagreen}} Tōhoku Main Line
    • {{Colorbull|#851a72}} Kitakami Line

    }}

    |Kitakami

    |-

    |{{STN|Shin-Hanamaki|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|新花巻}}

    | align="center" |463.1

    |●

    |▲

    |{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Hanamaki

    |-

    |{{STN|Morioka|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|盛岡}}

    | align="center" |496.5

    |●

    |●

    |●

    |{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Morioka

    |-

    |{{STN|Iwate-Numakunai|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|いわて沼宮内}}

    | align="center" |527.6

    | rowspan="5" |

    |▲

    ||

    |{{Plainlist|

    • 20px Iwate Galaxy Railway Line (IGR)

    }}

    |Iwate

    |-

    |{{STN|Ninohe|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|二戸}}

    | align="center" |562.2

    |▲

    |●

    |{{Plainlist|

    • 20px Iwate Galaxy Railway Line (IGR)

    }}

    |Ninohe

    |-

    |{{STN|Hachinohe|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|八戸}}

    | align="center" |593.1

    |▲

    |●

    |{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Hachinohe

    | rowspan="3" |Aomori
    Prefecture

    |-

    |{{STN|Shichinohe-Towada|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|七戸十和田}}

    | align="center" |629.2

    |▲

    |●

    |

    |Shichinohe

    |-

    |{{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}}

    |{{lang|ja|新青森}}

    | align="center" |674.9

    |●

    |●

    ||{{Plainlist|

    }}

    |Aomori

    |-

    |align="center" colspan="10"|↓ Through services towards Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto via the Hokkaido Shinkansen ↓

    |}

    Rolling stock

    As of March 2024, the following types are used on Tohoku Shinkansen services.

    File:E2 J74 Yamabiko 216 Omiya 20110206.jpg|E2 series

    File:E3-1000 L54 Tsubasa 144 Kita-Yamagata 20150307.jpg|E3 series

    File:JRE-TEC-E5 omiya.JPG|E5 series

    File:E6 series Z12 Komachi 20161013.jpg|E6 series

    File:E8系(大宮駅).jpg|E8 series

    File:H5系 H1編成 仙台駅入線.JPG|H5 series

    = Planned rolling stock =

    • E10 series (planned for fiscal 2030){{Cite web |title= |script-title=ja:東北新幹線、新型車両「E10系」開発へ |trans-title=New "E10 series" train to be developed for the Tohoku Shinkansen |url=https://tetsudo-shimbun.com/headline/entry-4196.html |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=Tetsudo Shimbun |language=ja}}

    =Former rolling stock=

    File:JR East Shinkansen E4.jpg train]]

    • 200 series: Yamabiko / Nasuno / Aoba services (1982 – November 2011){{cite web|url= http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20110913k0000m040085000c.html|script-title= ja:東北新幹線: はやてにもE5系 200系は姿消す|trans-title= E5 for Tohoku Shinkansen "Hayate" also – 200 series to disappear|date= 12 September 2011|work= Mainichi.jp|publisher= The Mainichi Newspapers|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 12 September 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120710012121/http://mainichi.jp/select/shakai/|archive-date= 10 July 2012}}
    • 400 series: Tsubasa / Nasuno services (July 1992 – April 2010)
    • E1 series: Max Yamabiko / Max Aoba services (July 1994 – December 1999)
    • E4 series: Max Yamabiko / Max Nasuno services (1999 – September 2012)

    File:JR East Shinkansen 200(renewal).jpg|200 series

    File:Tsubasa 422-6.jpg|A 400 series train on a Tsubasa service at Yonezawa Station in March 2005

    File:Shinkansen-e1.jpg|E1 series

    File:JR East Shinkansen E4.jpg|E4 series

    =Non-revenue-earning types=

    File:Shinkansen E926 East-i.jpg|E926 East i train at Omiya Station, May 2001

    =Timeline=

    {{Tohoku Shinkansen graphical timeline}}

    History

    • 28 November 1971: Construction starts on the line.
    • 23 June 1982: The {{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}}–{{STN|Morioka|x}} section opens.{{Cite journal |last=Taniguchi |first=Mamoru |date=1993 |title=The Japanese Shinkansen |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23288577 |journal=Built environment |volume=19 |issue=3/4 |pages=216 |jstor=23288577 }}
    • 14 March 1985: The {{STN|Ueno|x}}–{{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}} section opens.
    • 20 June 1991: The {{STN|Tokyo|x}}–{{STN|Ueno|x}} section opens.
    • October 1998: 1 billionth passenger carried on Tōhoku, Joetsu and Nagano Shinkansen lines.
    • 1 December 2002: The {{STN|Morioka|x}}–{{STN|Hachinohe|x}} section opens.
    • 13 April 2010: Test running starts on the extension from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori.{{cite web |url=http://www.aba-net.com/news/news002.html |script-title=ja:4月から八戸・新青森間で試験走行開始 |date=3 February 2010 |access-date=3 February 2010 |language=ja |archive-date=20 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120020133/http://www.aba-net.com/news/news002.html |url-status=dead }}
    • 4 December 2010: The extension from Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori opens.{{cite web| script-title=ja:東北新幹線 新青森開業等について|trans-title=Opening of Tōhoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori| publisher = JR East| date = 11 May 2010| url = http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2010/20100505.pdf| language = ja| access-date = 11 May 2010}}
    • 5 March 2011: New Hayabusa services operating at {{convert|300|km/h|abbr=on}} commence operation between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori using new E5 series trainsets.{{cite web| script-title=ja:新しい東北新幹線の列車愛称等の決定について|trans-title=Name selected for new Tohoku Shinkansen services| publisher = JR East| date = 11 May 2010| url = http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2010/20100504.pdf| language = ja| access-date = 11 May 2010}}
    • 23 June 2012: The line's 30th anniversary was celebrated, with approximately 1.93 billion passengers having been transported on the line.[http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120623p2a00m0na019000c.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707052404/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120623p2a00m0na019000c.html|date=July 7, 2012}}

    From Shin-Aomori, the line continues to Shin-Hakodate in Hokkaido ({{convert|148.9|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}, since March 26, 2016 under the name Hokkaido Shinkansen), passing through the world's longest undersea railway tunnel, the Seikan Tunnel. A further {{convert|211.3|km|abbr=on}} to Sapporo is due to open by 2030.

    The mountainous terrain that the line passes through has necessitated heavy reliance on tunnels. The Iwate-Ichinohe Tunnel on the Morioka–Hachinohe stretch, completed in 2000, was briefly the world's longest land rail tunnel at {{convert|25.8|km|abbr=on}}, but in 2005 it was superseded by the Hakkōda Tunnel on the extension to Aomori, at {{convert|26.5|km|abbr=on}}. In 2007 the Lötschberg Base Tunnel ({{convert|34.57|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}), and in 2010 the Gotthard Base Tunnel ({{convert|57|km|disp=or|abbr=on}}, bored through and due in service by 2016) in Switzerland superseded both.

    =2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami=

    On the afternoon of 11 March 2011, services on the Tohoku Shinkansen were suspended as a result of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. JR East estimated that around 1,100 repairs would be required for the line between Omiya and Iwate-Numakunai, ranging from collapsed station roofs to bent power pylons.[http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/videonews/jnn?a=20110318-00000001-jnn-soci]{{dead link|date=February 2014}}

    Limited service on the line was restored in segments: Tokyo to {{STN|Nasushiobara|x}} was re-opened on 15 March, and Morioka to Shin-Aomori was re-opened on 22 March.[http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110322-00000124-yom-soci] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325105817/http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20110322-00000124-yom-soci|date=March 25, 2011}} The line between Morioka and Ichinoseki re-opened on 7 April, Nasushiobara and Fukushima on 12 April, and the rest of the line on or around 30 April, although not at full speed or a full schedule.{{cite news|url=http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20110405k0000m040050000c.html|title=東日本大震災: 東北新幹線、7日に盛岡-一ノ関間運転再開|date=4 April 2011|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=4 April 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416061033/http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20110405k0000m040050000c.html|archive-date=16 April 2011}}Kyodo News, "Tohoku Shinkansen to resume services on more sections", 12 April 2011.NHK, "Tohoku Shinkansen to fully resume April 30", 18 April 2011. The trains returned to full-speed operations on 23 September 2011.Kyodo News, "[http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110924a8.html Tohoku Shinkansen Line back to normal]", Japan Times, 24 September 2011, p. 2.

    = 2021 Tohoku earthquake =

    A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the Tohoku area approximately {{convert|46|km||0|abbr=on}} east of Namie on the evening of 13 February 2021.{{Cite web|last=Ogura|first=Junko|date=February 13, 2021|title=Japan rocked by 'aftershock' from devastating 9.0-magnitude quake that hit in 2011|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/asia/japan-earthquake-intl/index.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=February 13, 2021|website=cnn}} Following the quake, infrastructure damage was discovered between Shin-Shirakawa and Furukawa stations.{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/3c2d685287ce-breaking-news-many-injured-in-quake-but-no-deaths-reported-japan-pm-suga.html|title=Japan braces for aftershocks as M7.3 quake injures over 150|date=14 February 2021|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=14 February 2021}}

    East Japan Railway closed the Tohoku Shinkansen between Nasushiobara and Morioka. The section between Ichinoseki and Morioka re-opened on 16 February,{{cite web |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/258087829ff4-japan-scrambles-to-cover-railway-artery-severed-by-powerful-quake.html|title=Japan scrambles to cover railway artery severed by powerful quake|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=15 February 2021}} Sendai and Ichinoseki on 22 February, and the remaining section between Nasushiobara and Sendai on 24 February.{{cite press release |title=福島県沖地震に伴う東北新幹線の運転再開見込みについて|url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2020/20210219_ho03.pdf |publisher=East Japan Railway Company|date=19 February 2021|access-date=19 February 2021|lang=ja|trans-title=About the prospect of resuming operation on the Tōhoku Shinkansen due to the Fukushima Prefecture Offshore Earthquake}} Trains operated at 80% the usual timetable with top speeds reduced until 26 March, when repairs were completed and the normal timetable was restored.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f0b04e5ca645a5d5cefb6cd894a9566f17f884e1|title=東北新幹線が通常ダイヤ復帰 所要時間や本数、元通りに|date=26 March 2021|website=news.yahoo.co.jp|publisher=Kyodo News|access-date=26 March 2021|language=ja|archive-date=19 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210619133824/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f0b04e5ca645a5d5cefb6cd894a9566f17f884e1|url-status=dead}}

    = 2025 uncoupling accident =

    On 6 March 2025 around 11:30 AM the Hayabusa-Komachi 21 train, composed of H5 and E6 series Shinkansen, travelling at around 60 km/h was uncoupled while travelling between Ueno and Omiya stations. Both trains had made emergency stop near Nishi-Nippori Station and no one among 642 passengers was injured. According to JR East press conference, the problem came from Komachi side.{{Cite web |last=日本放送協会 |date=2025-03-06 |title=東北新幹線 連結外れ「こまち」側に原因か 連結運転は全面停止 |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20250306/k10014741221000.html |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=NHKニュース}}

    On that day, 111 Shinkansen trains were cancelled and 166 were delayed, affecting more than 150,000 people. Not only Tohoku Shinkansen was affected, but also Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen services. Coupled operations with Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen were cancelled. Passengers are guided to interchange at Fukushima station for Yamagata Shinkansen and Morioka station for Akita Shinkansen.{{Cite web |title=7日の秋田新幹線は盛岡〜秋田間で折り返し運転 東北新幹線「はやぶさ」「こまち」連結分離トラブル受け 東京発着列車利用は盛岡で乗り換え必要に（IBC岩手放送） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/16f5d566a91b9d5e49e5252eed2e0425de75cc7c |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Yahoo!ニュース |language=ja}} It brought inconvenience for passengers, as interchanges require transferring from Shinkansen to conventional line platforms. Furthermore, congestion is expected.

    A similar accident happened in September 2024, when Hayabusa-Komachi train travelling between Furukawa and Sendai stations uncoupled while travelling at more than 300 km/h. Train inspections and special measures were taken.{{cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Tohoku Shinkansen services briefly halted after train car decoupling |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/19/japan/tohoku-shinkansen-halt/ |access-date=20 March 2025 |work=The Japan Times}}

    Special event train services

    =25th anniversary=

    File:200 K47 Yamabiko 931 Oyama 20070623.JPG

    On 23 June 2007, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Yamabiko 931 service from Omiya to Morioka to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen.{{cite magazine| title = JR東日本 "東北新幹線大宮開業25周年記念号" 運転|trans-title= JR East runs Tohoku Shinkansen 25th anniversary special train|magazine=Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine| volume = 36| issue = 280| page =75| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun| location = Japan| date = August 2012}}

    =30th anniversary=

    On 23 June 2012, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Yamabiko 235 service from Omiya to Morioka to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen.{{cite magazine| title = JR東日本 東北新幹線が開業30周年を迎える|trans-title= JR East Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Tohoku Shinkansen Opening|magazine=Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine| volume = 41| issue = 340| page =74| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun| location = Japan| date = August 2012}}

    References

    {{Refbegin}}

    • JR Timetable, December 2008

    {{Refend}}

    {{Reflist}}

    External links

    {{Commons category}}

    • [https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ JR East website] {{in lang|en}}
    • [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4302291.stm Japan blasts longest land tunnel]

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