View source for Asama (train)

{{Short description|Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train service}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Update|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox rail service
| name               = ''Asama''
| image              = SeriesE7-F19.jpg
| image_width        = 300px
| caption            = An E7 series set on an ''Asama'' service in August 2020
| type               = [[Shinkansen]] ([[Shinkansen#Service names|Local]])
| status             = Operational
| locale             = Japan
| predecessor        = 
| first              = 1 March 1961 (Semi-express)<br>1 October 1997 (Shinkansen)
| last               = 
| successor          = 
| operator           = [[JR East]]
| formeroperator     = [[JNR]]
| line_used          = [[Hokuriku Shinkansen]]
| ridership          = 
| start              = {{STN|Tokyo|x}}
| stops              = 
| end                = {{STN|Nagano|x}}
| distance           = 
| journeytime        = 
| frequency          = 
| trainnumber        = 
| class              = Standard + Green + Gran Class
| access             = 
| seating            = 
| catering           = [[Trolley service]]
| stock              = [[E7 series]], [[W7 series]]
| gauge              = {{RailGauge|1435mm|allk=on}}
| el                 = [[25 kV AC]] 50/60 [[Hertz|Hz]] [[Overhead line|overhead]]
| speed              = {{Convert|260|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}
| owners             = 
| routenumber        = 
| map                = 
| map_state          = 
}}

The {{Nihongo|'''''Asama'''''|あさま}} is a high-speed [[Shinkansen]] train service operated by [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) on the [[Hokuriku Shinkansen]] in Japan.<ref name="kotsu2008">{{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 = 20| isbn = 978-4-330-00608-6}}</ref> The shinkansen service was introduced in October 1997, but the name was first used for a semi-express service operated by [[Japanese National Railways]] (JNR) in 1961.<ref name="meikan1995">{{cite book | script-title=ja: 列車名鑑1995 |trans-title= Train Name Directory 1995| publisher = Railway Journal| date = August 1995 | location = Japan}}</ref> “Asama" is the name of an active volcano ([[Mount Asama]]) near [[Karuizawa, Nagano|Karuizawa]], on the boundary between [[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma]] and [[Nagano Prefecture]].

==Operations==
All 16 ''Asama'' services stop at {{STN|Tokyo|x}}, {{STN|Ueno|x}}, {{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}}, {{STN|Takasaki|x}}, {{STN|Karuizawa|x}}, {{STN|Sakudaira|x}}, {{STN|Ueda|x|Nagano}}, and {{STN|Nagano|x}}. 11 of them make an additional stop at {{STN|Kumagaya|x}}, {{STN|Honjō-Waseda|x}}, and {{STN|Annaka-Haruna|x}}.

==Train formations==
''Asama'' services are operated using 12-car [[E7 series]] or [[W7 series]] trainsets formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.<ref name="jrr2012_summer">{{cite book |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2012夏 |trans-title= JR EMU Formations - Summer 2012| publisher = Kotsu Shimbunsha | date = May 2012 | location = Japan | page = 13| isbn = 978-4-330-28612-9}}</ref> Car 11 is a "Green" car, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. Unlike on Tohoku Shinkansen ''[[Hayabusa (train)|Hayabusa]]'' services, however, a dedicated attendant service is not provided in Gran Class cars on ''Asama'' services.<ref name="tt201403"/> All cars are no-smoking.<ref name="tt201403"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 6 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 7 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 8 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 9 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 10 !! style="background:#E6FFE6" | 11 !! style="background: #FFFBE6" | 12
|-
! Class 
| Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5" | Green || style="background: #FFFDF5" | Gran Class

|-
! Facilities
| Toilets  || &nbsp; || Toilets, phone || &nbsp; || Toilets || style="background: #FFFAF5"| &nbsp; || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Wheelchair space, accessible toilet, phone || style="background: #FFFAF5"| &nbsp; || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Toilets || style="background: #FFFAF5"| &nbsp; || style="background: #F5FFF5" | Wheelchair space, accessible toilet || style="background: #FFFDF5" | Toilets
|}

<gallery class=center>
File:E7Gran Class.JPG|Interior of an E7 series Gran Class car 12
File:E7 Green class car 20140412.jpg|Interior of an E7 series Green car 11
File:E7Standard-sized car.JPG|Interior of an E7 series ordinary-class car 10
</gallery>

==Rolling stock==
* [[E7 series]] 12-car F sets (since 15 March 2014)
* [[W7 series]] 12-car W sets (since 14 March 2015)

Services were initially operated using a dedicated fleet of fourteen 8-car [[E2 series]] "N" sets based at Nagano Shinkansen Depot.<ref name="jrr2012_summer"/> Trains are designed to maintain speeds of {{Convert|260|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}} on the 30&nbsp;km continuous gradient of 30[[Per mil|‰]] between {{STN|Takasaki|x}} and Karuizawa.

New [[E7 series]] 12-car sets, also based at Nagano Depot, were introduced on ''Asama'' services from the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014.<ref name="dj361">{{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|page =12|publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun |location = Japan |language= ja|date = May 2014}}</ref> These trains included "Gran Class" seating arranged 2+1 abreast. E7 series trainsets were initially used on seven return services daily, with a further four return workings added from 19 April 2014.<ref name="dj361"/> JR West [[W7 series]] 12-car sets, based at Hakusan Depot, were introduced from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015.

<gallery class=center>
File:Series-E7-F19.jpg|An E7 series set on an ''Asama'' service in February 2021
</gallery>

===Former rolling stock===
* [[E2 series]] 8-car J sets (from 1 October 1997 until 2002)
* [[E2 series]] 8-car N sets (from 1 October 1997 until 31 March 2017)
* [[200 Series Shinkansen#Set F80|200 series]] 12-car F80 set (February 1998 only)
* [[E4 series]] 8-car P50/P80 sets, as ''Max Asama'' (22 July 2001 - 15 September 2003)

<gallery class=center>
File:E2 J6 Asama Karuizawa 19980218.jpg|An 8-car Nagano Shinkansen E2 series set J6 arriving at Karuizawa Station on a Tokyo-bound ''Asama'' service in February 1998
File:N11 Asama 514 Tokyo 20020601.jpg|A JR East E2 series set N11 arriving at Tokyo Station on an ''Asama'' service in June 2002
File:Shinkansen E4series (4467135007).jpg|An E4 series set
File:200 F80 Asama Ueda 19980218.jpg|Modified set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen ''Asama'' service in February 1998
</gallery>

===Pre-shinkansen===
[[File:JRE-EC189-Asama.jpg|thumb|189 series ''Asama'' service at Ōmiya Station in 1991]]
* [[181 series]] EMU sets (October 1966&ndash;)
* [[189 series]] EMU 9/11/12-car sets (October 1975&ndash;September 1997)
* [[489 series]] EMU sets

==History==

===Semi-express ''Asama''===
The name ''Asama'' was first introduced on 1 March 1961 for {{Nihongo|semi-express|準急|junkyū}} services operating between [[Nagano Station|Nagano]] and [[Niigata Station|Niigata]]. This service operated until 30 November 1962, after which the train was renamed {{Nihongo|''Akakura''|赤倉}}. From 1 December 1962, the name was used for the semi-express services operating between [[Ueno Station|Ueno]] in Tokyo and [[Nagano Station|Nagano]] on the [[Shinetsu Line]]. This service continued until 30 September 1963, after which the train was renamed {{Nihongo|''Maruike''|丸池}}.<ref name="meikan1995"/>

===Limited express ''Asama''===
[[File:489 asama.JPG|thumb|489 series in ''Asama'' livery on the Shinetsu Main Line, August 1997]]
After a gap of three years, the name ''Asama'' was re-introduced from 1 October 1966 on the [[Limited express]] services operating between [[Ueno Station|Ueno]] and [[Nagano Station|Nagano]] or [[Naoetsu Station|Naoetsu]]. By the late 1990s, there were 29 workings daily in each direction, formed of 9- or 11-car [[189 series]] EMU formations. During the busy summer periods, a second [[First class travel|Green car]] was sometimes added to increase formations to 12 cars.<ref name="meikan1995"/>

The typical 11-car 189 series formation in 1995 was as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end.<ref name="meikan1995"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No. !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 1 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 3 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 4 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 6 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 7 !! 8 !! 9 !! 10 !! 11 
|-
! Numbering
| style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa 189 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 188 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 189 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 188 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 189 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| SaRo 189 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 188 || MoHa 189 || MoHa 188 || MoHa 189 || KuHa 189
|-
! Accommodation
| style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:No Smoking.svg|15px]] Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:No Smoking.svg|15px]] Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5"| [[File:No Smoking.svg|15px]] Green || style="background: #FFFAF5"| [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Reserved || [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Non-reserved || [[File:Smoking pictogram (black).svg|15px]] Non-reserved || [[File:No Smoking.svg|15px]] Non-reserved || [[File:No Smoking.svg|15px]] Non-reserved
|}

===Shinkansen ''Asama''===
From 1 October 1997, the name ''Asama'' was used for the services on the newly opened [[Hokuriku Shinkansen|Nagano Shinkansen]] (absorbed into the Hokuriku Shinkansen from 2015), operating between {{STN|Tokyo|x}} and {{STN|Nagano|x}}.<ref name="kotsu2008"/>

During the [[1998 Winter Olympics]] in February 1998, additional services were provided using one specially modified [[200 Series Shinkansen|200 series]] train (set F80), limited to a maximum speed of 210&nbsp;km/h.<ref name="railfan444">{{cite magazine| script-title=ja: 200系F80編成|trans-title= 200 series set F80|magazine=[[Japan Railfan Magazine]] | volume = 38| issue = 444|pages=64–65| publisher = Koyusha Co., Ltd.| location = Japan | date = April 1998}}</ref> Four [[E4 series]] double-decker "Max" trains (sets P51/52 and P81/82) were also specially built for seasonal use on the Nagano Shinkansen as ''Max Asama'' services, but only two (sets P81 and P82) are capable of travelling as far as Nagano because the line west of Karuizawa runs on a 60&nbsp;Hz power supply, unlike the rest of the line that runs on a 50&nbsp;Hz power supply.

From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, ''Asama'' services were made entirely no-smoking.<ref name="jrr2012_summer"/>

The services operated using [[E2 series]] eight-car sets (until 31 March 2017) were formed as follows. Car 7 was a "Green" (first class) car.<ref name="tt201403">{{cite book | title=JR Timetable | publisher=Kotsu Shimbunsha | date=March 2014 | location=Japan | page=970}}</ref> All cars were no-smoking.<ref name="tt201403"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No. !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 6 !! style="background: #E6FFE6" | 7 !! style="background: #FFF2E6"| 8
|-
! Class 
| Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5" | Green || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved 
|-
! Facilities
| Toilet || &nbsp; || Toilet || Phone || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Toilet || style="background: #FFFAF5"| &nbsp; || style="background: #F5FFF5" | Toilet, wheelchair space || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Wheelchair space, phone
|}

<gallery class=center>
File:JRE E2 N1 E215 inside.jpg|Interior of an E2 series Green car
File:JRE E2 E226-301 inside.jpg|Interior of an E2 series ordinary-class car
</gallery>

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, new [[E7 series]] 12-car trainsets were introduced on ''Asama'' services.<ref name="dj361"/> Initially used on seven return services daily, this number was increased to eleven return services daily from 19 April 2014.<ref name="dj361"/>

Following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension beyond Nagano to Kanazawa in 2015, the ''Asama'' name continued to be used for those services operating between Tokyo and Nagano,<ref name="news20131010">{{cite web |url= http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2013/20131008.pdf|script-title=ja:北陸新幹線の列車名の決定について|trans-title= Hokuriku Shinkansen train names decided|date= 10 October 2013 |work= News release|publisher= JR East & JR West|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 10 October 2013}}</ref> with some services still operated by 8-car E2 series trains.<ref name="jreast20140827">{{cite web |url= http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2014/20140814.pdf|script-title=ja:北陸新幹線 長野～金沢間開業に伴う運行計画の概要について |trans-title= Outline of service plans for opening of Hokuriku Shinkansen from Nagano to Kanazawa|date= 27 August 2014 |work= News release|publisher= JR East & JR West|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 27 August 2014}}</ref>

The last services operated using eight-car E2 series trainsets ran on 31 March 2017, from which date all ''Asama'' services were formed of E7 and W7 series trainsets.<ref name="railfan20170401">{{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2017/04/01/202000.html |script-title=ja: E2系N編成“あさま”の営業運転終了 |trans-title= E2 series N set ''Asama'' services end |date= 1 April 2017|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170401150843/http://railf.jp/news/2017/04/01/202000.html |archive-date= 1 April 2017 |url-status=live |access-date= 1 April 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of named passenger trains of Japan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Asama (train)}}
* [http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/e7.html JR East E7 series ''Kagayaki''/''Hakutaka''/''Asama''/''Toki''/''Tanigawa''] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Shinkansen}}
{{JR East trains}}

[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1961]]
[[Category:East Japan Railway Company]]
[[Category:Named Shinkansen trains]]
[[Category:Hokuriku Shinkansen]]