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Tsubame (Shinkansen)
Encyclopedia
The is the name of the train services operating on the Kyūshū Shinkansen
in Japan since 2004.
The word in Japanese means "swallow
", and has been used on a succession of limited express
trains on the Tōkaidō
and Sanyō Main Line in Japan since 1930.
electric locomotives, and later by 151 series EMU
s. From 1 October 1964, following the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the name was reassigned to limited express trains operating between and . From 1 October 1965, services were extended to operate between and Hakata, operated by 481 and 583 series
EMUs. These services continued until 9 March 1975.
between / and Nishi Kagoshima (now Kagoshima-Chūō Station
), operated using new 787 series
EMUs in 6-, 7-, or 11-car formations.
These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen
opened.
With the start of services on the Kyushu Shinkansen
between and from 13 March 2004, new Relay Tsubame services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line
between and using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations. The operation of the Relay Tsubame service was unique, as it was the only station in Japan where normal trains stopped at platforms adjacent to the shinkansen platforms. This was to facilitate transfer of passengers from shinkansen to Relay Tsubame and vice-versa. Normally, shinkansen platforms are physically separated from normal train platforms with fare gates and may be at a different level (usually above the normal train platforms).
When the remainder of the Kyushu Shinkansen was opened on 12 March 2011, the Tsubame became an all-stations service (similar to the Kodama on the Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen) operating primarily between Hakata and . Services operate twice per hour in each direction during the morning and evening, and once per hour during the middle of the day. Some Tsubame services also run to/from Kagoshima-Chūō.
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
in Japan since 2004.
The word in Japanese means "swallow
Swallow
The swallows and martins are a group of passerine birds in the family Hirundinidae which are characterised by their adaptation to aerial feeding...
", and has been used on a succession of limited express
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
trains on the Tōkaidō
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
and Sanyō Main Line in Japan since 1930.
Pre-war
The Tsubame name (originally written as "燕") was first used from 1 October 1930 for limited express services operating between and , hauled by JNR Class C51 and JNR Class C53 steam locomotives. These services operated until 30 September 1943.Post-war
The name was revived (this time written as "つばめ") from 1 January 1950 for limited express services operating between Tokyo and , hauled by JNR Class C62 steam and JNR Class EF58JNR Class EF58
The EF58 is a class of Japanese 2-C+C-2 wheel arrangement electric locomotives. 172 locomotives were built between 1946 and 1958.-The later years:In 1984, 64 out of 172 EF58 locos built were still in service or temporary storage...
electric locomotives, and later by 151 series EMU
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
s. From 1 October 1964, following the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the name was reassigned to limited express trains operating between and . From 1 October 1965, services were extended to operate between and Hakata, operated by 481 and 583 series
583 series
The are limited express electric multiple unit types introduced in 1967 by Japanese National Railways and operated by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company on through services express Kitaguni and other special trains....
EMUs. These services continued until 9 March 1975.
JR Kyushu
The Tsubame name was once again revived by JR Kyushu from 15 July 1992 for limited express services operating on the Kagoshima Main LineKagoshima Main Line
The is a major railway line operated by the Kyushu Railway Company between Mojikō in Kitakyūshū, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima City, at the southern end of Kyushu...
between / and Nishi Kagoshima (now Kagoshima-Chūō Station
Kagoshima-Chuo Station
is the main railway station in Kagoshima, Japan. It is the southern terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen and is located on the Kagoshima Main Line, and Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line...
), operated using new 787 series
787 series
The is an AC electric multiple unit type operated on limited express services by Kyushu Railway Company in Japan since July 1992.-7-car sets :The 7-car sets are formed as follows....
EMUs in 6-, 7-, or 11-car formations.
These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
opened.
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
between and from 13 March 2004, new Relay Tsubame services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line
Kagoshima Main Line
The is a major railway line operated by the Kyushu Railway Company between Mojikō in Kitakyūshū, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima City, at the southern end of Kyushu...
between and using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations. The operation of the Relay Tsubame service was unique, as it was the only station in Japan where normal trains stopped at platforms adjacent to the shinkansen platforms. This was to facilitate transfer of passengers from shinkansen to Relay Tsubame and vice-versa. Normally, shinkansen platforms are physically separated from normal train platforms with fare gates and may be at a different level (usually above the normal train platforms).
When the remainder of the Kyushu Shinkansen was opened on 12 March 2011, the Tsubame became an all-stations service (similar to the Kodama on the Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen) operating primarily between Hakata and . Services operate twice per hour in each direction during the morning and evening, and once per hour during the middle of the day. Some Tsubame services also run to/from Kagoshima-Chūō.