Akita Shinkansen

{{Infobox rail line

| box_width = 275px

| name = Akita Shinkansen

| native_name = 秋田新幹線

| native_name_lang = ja

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

| routes = Komachi

| logo =

| logo_width =

| image = E6 series Z12 Komachi 20161013.jpg

| image_width = 250px

| caption = An E6 series trainset on an Akita Shinkansen Komachi service in October 2016.

| type = Mini-shinkansen

| system =

| status =

| locale = Iwate and Akita prefectures

| start = {{STN|Morioka|x}}

| end = {{STN|Akita|x}}

| stations = 6

| daily_ridership =

| open = {{start date and age|1997|03|22|df=y}}

| close =

| owner = {{ric|JR East|name=y}}

| operator = JR East

| character =

| depot =

| stock = E6 series

| linelength = {{cvt|127.3|km}}

| tracklength =

| tracks = Double-track and Single-track

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

| electrification = {{20 kV 50 Hz}} (overhead catenary)

| speed = {{cvt|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}

| elevation =

| map = 240px

| map_name = Route Map (from Morioka in blue)

| map_state = collapsed

}}

The {{Nihongo|Akita Shinkansen|秋田新幹線}} is a Mini-shinkansen rail line in Japan. Serving the Kantō and Tōhoku Regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita in Akita prefecture. From Tokyo to Morioka in Iwate prefecture, it operates on the Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks. From Morioka to Ōmagari, it uses the Tazawako Line tracks. The section from Ōmagari to Akita uses the Ōu Main Line tracks.

Operations

Services consist of Komachi trains which are 7-car E6 series mini-shinkansen sets coupled with E5 series Hayabusa trains for the portion of the journey between Tokyo and Morioka.

The Komachi services run at a maximum speed of {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and between Morioka and Akita, run as 7-car independent trains with a maximum speed of {{Convert|130|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}.{{cite magazine| script-title = ja: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 = Koyusha Co., Ltd.| location = Japan| date = April 2012}} However, {{Convert|110|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} is more typical for the line through the hills east of Akita, with trains frequently slowing to {{Convert|90|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} 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.

class="wikitable" !rowspan="2"\|Station !rowspan="2"\|Japanese !colspan="2"\|Distance (km) !rowspan="2"\|Transfers !colspan="2" rowspan="2"\|Location
From {{STN\|Tokyo\|x}} !From {{STN\|Morioka\|x}}
Morioka \|{{lang\|ja\|盛岡}} \|535.3 \|0.0 \|{{ric\|JR East\|Tohoku Shinkansen\|name=y}} (for {{STN\|Shin-Aomori\|x}} and {{STN\|Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto\|x}}) {{rcb\|JR East\|Tohoku\|yes}} {{rcb\|JR East\|Yamada\|yes}} {{rcb\|JR East\|Tazawako\|yes}} {{rcb\|Iwate Galaxy\|Iwate Galaxy\|yes}} \|Morioka \|rowspan=2\|Iwate Prefecture
Shizukuishi \|{{lang\|ja\|雫石}} \|552.9 \|16.0 \|Tazawako Line \|Shizukuishi
Tazawako \|{{lang\|ja\|田沢湖}} \|579.4 \|40.1 \|Tazawako Line \|rowspan=2\|Senboku \|rowspan=4\|Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate \|{{lang\|ja\|角館}} \|600.0 \|58.8 \|Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line
Ōmagari \|{{lang\|ja\|大曲}} \|618.5 \|75.6 \|Ōu Main Line, Tazawako Line \|Daisen
Akita \|{{lang\|ja\|秋田}} \|670.2 \|127.3 \|Ōu Main Line, Uetsu Main Line, Oga Line \|Akita

class="wikitable"

!rowspan="2"|Station

!rowspan="2"|Japanese

!colspan="2"|Distance (km)

!rowspan="2"|Transfers

!colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Location

From {{STN|Tokyo|x}}

!From {{STN|Morioka|x}}

Morioka

|{{lang|ja|盛岡}}

|535.3

|0.0

|{{ric|JR East|Tohoku Shinkansen|name=y}} (for {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}} and {{STN|Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto|x}})
{{rcb|JR East|Tohoku|yes}}
{{rcb|JR East|Yamada|yes}}
{{rcb|JR East|Tazawako|yes}}
{{rcb|Iwate Galaxy|Iwate Galaxy|yes}}

|Morioka

|rowspan=2|Iwate Prefecture

Shizukuishi

|{{lang|ja|雫石}}

|552.9

|16.0

|Tazawako Line

|Shizukuishi

Tazawako

|{{lang|ja|田沢湖}}

|579.4

|40.1

|Tazawako Line

|rowspan=2|Senboku

|rowspan=4|Akita Prefecture

Kakunodate

|{{lang|ja|角館}}

|600.0

|58.8

|Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line

Ōmagari

|{{lang|ja|大曲}}

|618.5

|75.6

|Ōu Main Line, Tazawako Line

|Daisen

Akita

|{{lang|ja|秋田}}

|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-car E3 series trains.
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 the Tohoku 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: New E6 series trains were introduced on Super Komachi services, operating at {{Convert|300|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen.{{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2012/11/06/160000.html|script-title=ja:秋田新幹線の新しい列車名は"スーパーこまち"に|trans-title=New trains on Akita Shinkansen to be named "Super Komachi"|date= 6 November 2012|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 6 November 2012}}
March 15, 2014: All Komachi services operated by E6 series trains, operating at {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen.Yomiuri Shimbun: [http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/e-japan/akita/news/20090617-OYT8T00978.htm "JR東日本の新幹線 13年3月メドに「E6系」導入" (18 June 2009)]. Retrieved on 19 June 2009. {{in lang|ja}}
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 of Nasushiobara Station due to the 2021 Fukushima earthquake.{{cite news|last=|first=|date=14 February 2021|title=Tohoku Shinkansen line breaks from the base of utility poles|language=ja|work=|agency=TBS News|url=https://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye4198620.html|url-status=dead|access-date=14 February 2021|archive-date=14 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214014100/http://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye4198620.html}}
06 March 2025: Due to a Hayabusa-Komachi 21 service uncoupling near Nishi-Nippori station, coupled formations with Hayabusa trains are suspended until further notice. Passengers travelling from Tokyo to Akita and vise versa should transfer at Morioka station.{{Cite web |title=東北新幹線が走行中分離、「こまち」側に連結解除の痕跡…原因判明まで新幹線の連結運転取りやめ（読売新聞オンライン） |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/1fec00eae9fe6becbee03b71e99d4bd688a3088e |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Yahoo!ニュース |language=ja}}

Rolling stock

As of March 2020, the following types are used on Akita Shinkansen services.

File:E6 series Z12 Komachi 20161013.jpg trainset on an Akita Shinkansen Komachi service in October 2016.]]

E6 series 7-car sets, since 16 March 2013

=Former rolling stock=

File:Shinkansen E3 komachi.JPG

E3 series 6-car sets (originally 5-car sets) withdrawn by 15 March 2014

=Non-revenue-earning-types=

File:Shinkansen E926 East-i.jpg

East i (E926)

References

JR Timetable, June 2009 issue

Category:Lines of East Japan Railway Company

Category:High-speed railway lines in Japan

Category:Standard-gauge railways in Japan

Category:Railway lines opened in 1997

Category:1997 establishments in Japan