:Yamabiko

{{Short description|Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train service}}

{{For|the mythical Japanese spirit called "Yamabiko"|Yamabiko (folklore)}}

{{Infobox rail service

| box_width =

| name = Yamabiko

| logo =

| logo_width =

| image = Series-E5-U15 Yamabiko-50.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| caption = An E5 series trainset on a Yamabiko service in May 2022

| type = Shinkansen (Semi-express)

| status = Operational

| locale = Honshu, Japan

| predecessor =

| first = 1959 (Semi-express)
1982 (Shinkansen)

| last =

| successor =

| operator = JR East

| formeroperator = JNR

| ridership =

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

| stops =

| end = {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}}, {{STN|Morioka|x}}

| distance ={{cvt|496.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| journeytime =

| frequency =

| trainnumber =

| line_used = Tōhoku Shinkansen

| class = Standard, Green, Gran Class (E5 and H5 series)

| access =

| seating =

| catering = Trolley service (abolished 2019)

| otherfacilities =

| stock = E2 series, E3 series, E5 series, E6 series, H5 series

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}

| el = 25 kV AC, 50 Hz

| speed = {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}

| owners =

| routenumber =

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The {{Nihongo|Yamabiko|やまびこ}} is a high-speed Shinkansen train service operated on the Tōhoku Shinkansen between {{STN|Tokyo|x}} and {{STN|Morioka|x}} by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan.{{cite book | title = JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル |trans-title= JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun | year = 2008 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-330-00608-6}}

Name

The word yamabiko is usually translated as 'echo', particularly one which is heard in the mountains.{{cite web |title=Jisho.org: Japanese Dictionary |url=https://jisho.org/word/%E5%B1%B1%E5%BD%A6 |website=jisho.org |access-date=29 March 2022}}

Rolling stock

E2 series (since March 1997)
E3 series
E5 series (since November 2011)
E6 series (since 16 March 2013)JR Timetable, March 2013 =
200 series (June 1982 – November 2011)
E1 series (Max Yamabiko) (July 1994 – December 1999)
E4 series (Max Yamabiko) (until 28 September 2012) issue
H5 series (since 26 March 2016){{cite book |script-title=ja: JR時刻表 |trans-title= JR Timetable |publisher = Kotsu Shimbunsha | year = 2016 |location = Japan |language = ja |page = 978|id = {{EAN|4910053110464}}}}

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

File:Shinkansen E3 komachi.JPG|E3 series

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

File:2013年1月20日E6系S12編成試運転.jpg|E6 series

File:H5系 H1編成仙台駅入線.JPG|H5 series

=Former rolling stock=

200 series (June 1982 – November 2011)
E1 series (Max Yamabiko) (July 1994 – December 1999)
E4 series (Max Yamabiko) (until 28 September 2012)

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

File:Shinkansen-e1.jpg|E1 series

File:JR East Shinkansen E4.jpg|E4 series

History

=1959–1963: Semi express=

On 1 February 1959, the name Yamabiko was introduced on a {{Nihongo|semi-express|準急|junkyū}} service between Fukushima and Morioka on the Tōhoku Main Line. This service operated until 30 September 1963.{{cite book | title = 列車名鑑1995 |trans-title= Train Name Directory 1995| publisher = Railway Journal| date = August 1995 | location = Japan}}

=1965–1982: Limited express=

From 1 October 1965, the name was reintroduced for limited express services operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Morioka. These services continued until 22 June 1982, the day before the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened.

=1982–Present: Shinkansen=

From the start of services on the newly opened Tōhoku Shinkansen on 23 June 1982, Yamabiko became the name used for the limited-stop shinkansen services operating initially between Ōmiya and Morioka, later between Ueno and Morioka, and eventually between Tokyo and Morioka.

Since 1 July 1992, some Yamabiko services have run coupled with Tsubasa services (as of 2011 formed of E3 series sets) between Tokyo and Fukushima.

From 19 November 2011, E5 series trainsets were introduced on some Yamabiko services, replacing the remaining 200 series-operated services.{{cite web |url= http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2011/20110912.pdf|script-title=ja: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！|trans-title= Tohoku Shinkansen "Hayabusa" E5 series trains to be introduced on "Hayate" and "Yamabiko" services|date= 12 September 2011|work= Press release|publisher= East Japan Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 12 September 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|archive-date= 10 July 2012|archive-url= https://archive.today/20120710012121/http://mainichi.jp/select/shakai/|url-status= dead}}

Special event train services

=Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko=

On 30 March 2013, a special {{Nihongo|Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko|さよなら２００系やまびこ号}} train operated from Morioka to Tokyo, as a farewell run for the 200 series on Yamabiko services.{{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2013/04/01/100000.html |script-title=ja: 「さよなら200系やまびこ号」運転 |trans-title= Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko|date= 1 April 2015|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 8 June 2015}}

References

External links

[http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/e2.html E2 series Hayate/Yamabiko/Nasuno] {{in lang|ja}}
[http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/e3.html E3 series Tsubasa/Yamabiko/Nasuno] {{in lang|ja}}
[http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/e5.html E5 series Hayabusa/Hayate/Yamabiko/Nasuno] {{in lang|ja}}
[http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/e6.html E6 series Komachi/Hayabusa/Yamabiko/Nasuno] {{in lang|ja}}