Komachi　(train)

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Komachi

| image = E6 series Z12 Komachi 20161013.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| caption = An E6 series train on a Komachi service in October 2016

| type = Shinkansen

| status = Operational

| locale = Tōhoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen

| predecessor =

| first = 22 March 1997

| last =

| successor =

| operator = JR East

| formeroperator=

| ridership =

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

| stops =

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

| distance = {{Convert|670.2|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| journeytime =

| frequency = Hourly

| trainnumber =

| class = Standard + Green

| access =

| seating =

| catering = Trolley service

| stock = E6 series

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}

| el = 25/20 kV AC overhead

| speed = {{Plainlist|

{{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} (Tohoku Shinkansen)
{{Convert|130|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} (Akita Shinkansen)

}}

| owners =

| routenumber =

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The {{Nihongo|Komachi|こまち}} is a high-speed shinkansen service between {{STN|Tokyo|x}} and {{STN|Akita|x}} in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since March 1997. It is the only shinkansen service that runs on the Akita Shinkansen, and uses E6 series trains. Between Tokyo Station and {{STN|Morioka|x}}, it couples with Tōhoku Shinkansen E5 series Hayabusa and formerly E2 series for E3 series respectively. After Morioka, the Komachi service continues along standard gauge tracks that were converted from narrow gauge. Because it then runs on tracks that have grade crossings, its maximum speed from Morioka to Akita is {{Convert|130|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}, compared to {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

The Komachi service was named after a famous poet from the area, Ono no Komachi, whose name (小町) is also synonymous with "belle" or "beauty" in Japanese.

Station stops

Komachi services stop at the following stations on the Akita Shinkansen between Morioka and Akita.JR Timetable, March 2013 issue For details of station stops between Tokyo and Morioka, see the Hayabusa articles.

{{STN|Morioka|x}}
{{STN|Shizukuishi|x}}*
{{STN|Tazawako|x}}*
{{STN|Kakunodate|x}}*
{{STN|Ōmagari|x|Akita}}
{{STN|Akita|x}}

(*) Not served by all trains.

Train formations

File:Series-E6 Z14 Komachi.jpg

Since 15 March 2014, most Komachi services have operated by seven-car E6 series trainsets with running at a maximum speed of {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen coupled to E5 series Hayabusa trainsets.{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:3月15日ダイヤ改正と各地の話題|trans-title= 15 March timetable revision and topics from around the regions|magazine=Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine |volume = 43|issue = 361|pages =12–13|publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun |location = Japan |language= ja|date = May 2014}} Car 11, the "Green" (first class) car, is at the Tokyo end. All seats are reserved and no-smoking.

class="wikitable"
Car No.	style="background: #E6FFE6" \| 11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Class \| style="background: #F5FFF5" \| Green \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard
Facilities \| style="background: #F5FFF5" \| Wheelchair space \|\| Wheelchair space / Cardphone \|\| \|\| \|\| \|\| Cardphone \|\|

class="wikitable"

Car No.

style="background: #E6FFE6" | 11

Class

| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Green || Standard || Standard || Standard || Standard || Standard || Standard

Facilities

| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Wheelchair space || Wheelchair space / Cardphone || || || || Cardphone ||

=E3 series=

File:E3-Komachi-R20-131109.JPG

Komachi services were also operated by five-car E3 series trainsets (later augmented to six cars). These sets were formed as shown below, with car 11, the "Green" (first class) car, at the Tokyo end. All seats were reserved and no-smoking.

class="wikitable"
Car No.	style="background: #E6FFE6" \| 11	12	13	14	15	16
Class \| style="background: #F5FFF5" \| Green \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard \|\| Standard
Facilities \| style="background: #F5FFF5" \| Wheelchair space \|\| Wheelchair space \|\| Cardphone \|\| \|\| Cardphone \|\|

class="wikitable"

Car No.

style="background: #E6FFE6" | 11

Class

| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Green || Standard || Standard || Standard || Standard || Standard

Facilities

| style="background: #F5FFF5" | Wheelchair space || Wheelchair space || Cardphone || || Cardphone ||

Accommodation

File:JRE E611-8-inside.jpg|E6 series Green car interior with 2+2 seating

File:JReastE6 E628-5 inside.jpg|E6 series standard class car interior with 2+2 seating

History

Komachi services began on the newly opened Akita Shinkansen line from the start of the revised timetable on 22 March 1997 using a fleet of 16 new 5-car E3 series trains running at a maximum speed of {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the Tohoku Shinkansen.{{cite book | script-title=ja: 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 | page = 16| isbn = 978-4-330-00608-6}} The name Komachi was officially announced in July 1996.{{cite book| last = Teramoto | first = Mitsuteru | script-title=ja: 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 |trans-title= JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia| publisher = Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd | date = July 2001 | location = Tokyo | page = 239| isbn = 4-88732-093-0}} Services initially consisted of 13 return workings daily between Tokyo and Akita, and one return working between Sendai and Akita. Most trains ran coupled with 200 series Yamabiko trainsets between Tokyo and Morioka, but three return workings ran coupled with newly introduced E2 series sets, running at a maximum speed of {{Convert|275|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} between Utsunomiya and Morioka, and giving a fastest journey time of 3 hours 49 minutes between Tokyo and Akita (an average speed of 163.4 km/h). The train services proved popular, and from the December 1998 timetable revision, an addition return working was added, and the E3 series trains were lengthened to six cars each. From the December 1999 timetable, all Komachi services ran together with E2 series Yamabiko trains, allowing overall journey times to be reduced, with a typical journey time of 4 hours 4 minutes.

From 16 March 2013, new {{Nihongo|Super Komachi|スーパーこまち}} services started, using new E6 series trains running at a maximum speed of {{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}} Initially, a fleet of four trains was used to operate four return services daily between Tokyo and Akita. The fastest journey time was reduced to 3 hours 45 minutes, 5 minutes faster than the fastest previous Komachi services. From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, all services were operated by E6 series trains, and the name was returned to simply Komachi. At the same time, the maximum speed on the Tohoku Shinkansen (on the section between Utsunomiya and Morioka{{cite web |url= http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2013/20131217.pdf|script-title=ja:２０１４年３月ダイヤ改正について|trans-title= March 2014 timetable revision details|date= 20 December 2013|work= News release|publisher= East Japan Railway Company|location= Japan|pages= 2–3|language= ja|access-date= 20 December 2013}}) was further raised to {{Convert|320|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}.