Tsubasa (train)
A reliveried E3-1000 series set on a Tsubasa service, March 2015
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Shinkansen |
| Locale | Japan |
| First service | 1 October 1961 (Limited express) 1 July 1992 (Shinkansen |
| Current operator(s) | JR East |
| Former operator(s) | JNR |
| Route | |
| Start | Tokyo |
| End | Shinjo |
| Average journey time | 3 hrs 11 minutes (fastest) |
| Service frequency | 16 return trips daily |
| On-board services | |
| Catering facilities | Trolley service |
| Technical | |
| E3 series | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC overhead |
| Operating speed | 275 km/h (170 mph) |
The Tsubasa (つばさ?) is a high-speed Shinkansen train service operated on the Yamagata Shinkansen by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since July 1992. The name was formerly used for a limited express service operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by JR East, which ran from Ueno to Akita, and was discontinued in 1992 when the new shinkansen service commenced.
The Japanese word "tsubasa" means "wing".
The services were originally operated by 7-car 400 series trains, later replaced by 7-car E3 series trains. They couple with E2 series trains for their journey from Tokyo to Fukushima, travelling at a maximum speed of 275 km/h (170 mph). Tsubasa trains are limited to 130 km/h (80 mph) on the Yamagata Shinkansen from Fukushima to Shinjō since there are many sharp curves and level crossings, as the line is essentially a regauged narrow-gauge line.
Tsubasa services are operated by 7-car E3 series trainsets, with car 11 at the Tokyo end. All seats are no-smoking.
Tsubasa services are operated using a fleet of three E3-1000 series and twelve E3-2000 series 7-car trains. The latter were phased in from December 2008, totally replacing the older 400 series trains from April 2010.
400 series, March 2008
E3-1000 series, April 2011
E3-2000 series, May 2009
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