Yamagata Shinkansen

The Template:Nihongo is a Mini-shinkansen route in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It provides service between Tokyo and Shinjō in Yamagata Prefecture over the tracks of the Tohoku Shinkansen and the Ōu Main Line.

The term Yamagata Shinkansen refers to the segment that connects Fukushima and Shinjō. Because the shinkansen trains share tracks with local trains running on Template:Nihongo, it is often referred to as a "mini-shinkansen".

Operations

File:山形新幹線分岐.jpg

An aerial view showing the Yamagata Shinkansen diverging to the left from the Tohoku Shinkansen north of Fukushima Station

Trains consist of 7-car E3 and E8 series trainsets operating as Tsubasa services. Between Template:STN and Fukushima, some trains run coupled to Yamabiko trains on the Tōhoku Shinkansen. Between Fukushima and Shinjō, the trains run on their own at a maximum speed of Template:Convert and share the line with regular Ōu Main Line trains.<ref name="railfan612">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

As of July 2012, about 62 million passengers had ridden the line since it opened in July 1992.<ref name="jt20120703">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The fastest trains connect Tokyo and Yamagata stations in two hours and 29 minutes.<ref name="jt20120703"/>

Construction of a new approach line at Fukushima Station

In April 2021, JR East started construction of a new approach line at Fukushima station. Currently, the Yamagata Shinkansen can only enter and exit the Tohoku Shinkansen through platform 14 at Fukushima Station. This current layout requires the Yamagata Shinkansen to cross the north bound tracks to reach the Tokyo bound tracks. This new approach line will pass under the Tohoku Shinkansen, which will allow Yamagata Shinkansen to enter the Tohoku Shinkansen on platform 11 removing the crossing and reducing the gravitude of transport disruption. Construction is expected to finish by the end of fiscal year 2026.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Proposed Ou base tunnel

Construction of a base tunnel on the Yamagata Shinkansen is proposed, with JR East having undertaken a survey of a planned route from Niwasaka to Sekine, just south of Yonezawa station.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Convert of the proposed Template:Convert line would be in tunnel, mostly to the north of the existing Template:Convert Fukushima – Yamagata section. To be built on an improved alignment, the tunnel would lower journey times between Fukushima and Yamagata by ~10 min due to a proposed line speed of up to Template:Cvt.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The tunnel would avoid the Itaya Toge pass through the Ou mountains west of Fukushima. Gradients range from 3.0% to 3.8% and the line reaches an altitude of Template:Convert. The curvature and steep grades limit train speeds to Template:Convert or less, and the line is vulnerable to heavy rain and snowfall as well as high winds.<ref name=":0" /> Between 2011 and 2017 a total of 410 Yamagata mini-Shinkansen services were either suspended or delayed, and 40% of these incidents occurred on the line over the Itaya Toge pass.<ref name=":0" />

If the Template:Yen base tunnel is authorised, detailed design would take five years and construction another 15 years.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The cost could increase by Template:Yen if the tunnel were to be built with a cross-section large enough to permit the line to be upgraded to the full Shinkansen Loading gauge.<ref name=":0" />

Station list

• All stations listed below are located on the Ōu Main Line.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
		From Template:STN	From Template:STN
↑ Through services towards Template:STN via the Tōhoku Shinkansen Template:Refn ↑
Template:STN	lang}}	272.8	0.0	Template:Plainlist	Fukushima	Fukushima
Template:STN	lang}}	312.9	40.1	Template:Plainlist	Yonezawa	Yamagata
Template:STN	lang}}	322.7	49.9		Takahata, Higashiokitama District
Template:STN	lang}}	328.9	56.1	Template:Plainlist	Nanyō
Template:STN	lang}}	347.8	75.0		Kaminoyama
Template:STN	lang}}	359.9	87.1		Yamagata
Template:STN	lang}}	373.2	100.4		Tendō
Template:STN	lang}}	380.9	108.1		Higashine
Template:STN	lang}}	386.3	113.5		Murayama
Template:STN	lang}}	399.7	126.9		Ōishida, Kitamurayama District
Template:STN	lang}}	421.4	148.6	Template:Plainlist	Shinjō

Rolling stock

As of March 2024, the following types are used on Yamagata Shinkansen services.

File:JReastE3-2000-1000.jpg

E3-2000 series (left) and E3-1000 series (right) in their older liveries at Shinjō

• E3-2000 series 7 car sets, since 20 December 2008 (to be replaced by E8 series after 2024)
• E8 series 7-car sets, since 16 March 2024<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• E3-2000 series set L67 carrying original livery
  E3-2000 series set L67 carrying original livery
• E3-2000 series set L67 of on a Tsubasa service carrying new livery
  E3-2000 series set L67 of on a Tsubasa service carrying new livery
• E8 series set G1 undergoing testing in July 2023
  E8 series set G1 undergoing testing in July 2023

Former rolling stock

• 400 series 7-car sets (originally 6-car sets) withdrawn by 18 April 2010
• E3-1000 series 7-car sets (from 4 December 1999 until 18 March 2024)<ref name="E3-1000withdrawn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• A 400 series set on a Tsubasa service, March 2005
  A 400 series set on a Tsubasa service, March 2005
• E3-1000 series train set L54 in its newer livery on the Yamagata Shinkansen between Kita-yamagata and Yamagata in March 2015
  E3-1000 series train set L54 in its newer livery on the Yamagata Shinkansen between Kita-yamagata and Yamagata in March 2015

Non-revenue-earning-types

File:Shinkansen E926 East-i.jpg

E926 East i train at Omiya Station, May 2001

• East i (E926)

History

• 1 July 1992: Tsubasa services start from Tokyo to Yamagata with six-car 400 Series Shinkansen attached to a 200 Series Shinkansen on Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Fukushima.
• 1 December 1995: Trains are extended to seven cars.
• 4 December 1999: Line is extended to Shinjō.
• 18 March 2007: All cars are made non-smoking.
• 20 December 2008: E3-2000 series trains enter service.
• 18 April 2010: 400 series trains cease operations.
• 11 March 2011: All services are suspended due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
• 31 March 2011: Partial services resume between Fukushima and Shinjō.
• 12 April 2011: Through-service resumed between Tokyo and Shinjō but at half of previous capacity.<ref>NHK, "Yamagata Shinkansen fully resumes operations", 12 April 2011.</ref>
• 13 February 2021: Services suspended north of Nasushiobara Station due to the 2021 Fukushima earthquake.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• 9 June 2022: The line celebrates 30 years of operation. An E3 series trainset will be wrapped in a commemorative livery and will stay in service until November 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 16 March 2024: E8 series trains enter service<ref name=":1" />
• 6 March 2025: Due to a combined Hayabusa–Komachi service uncoupling near Nishi-Nippori station, coupled formations with Yamabiko trains on Yamagata Shinkansen were suspended until 14 March.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Passengers travelling from Tokyo to Yamagata/Shinjō and vice versa were instructed to transfer at Fukushima station.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Dead link

External links

• Stations of Yamagata Shinkansen (JR East) Template:In lang