Hayabusa (train)
The Hayabusa is an express high-speed Shinkansen service operated by East Japan Railway Company and Hokkaido Railway Company between Tokyo and in Japan since 26 March 2016. The name was formerly used for a limited express sleeping car service operated by JR Kyushu, which ran from Tokyo to, and was discontinued in March 2009.
Stopping pattern
Short turn trains starting or ending at Morioka stop at all or selected stations between Furukawa and Shin-Hanamaki, while trains starting or ending at Shin-Aomori or Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto pass these stations.Legend:
| ● | All trains stop |
| ▲ | Some trains stop |
| All trains pass |
Operations
Most Hayabusa services operate coupled with Komachi services between Tokyo and Morioka, where they uncouple and travel on the Akita Shinkansen.With a total length of, the Tōhoku Shinkansen is the longest Shinkansen line in Japan and includes the network’s highest scheduled operating speed, with trains reaching over approximately between Utsunomiya and Morioka.
As of March 2021, maximum operating speeds are between Tokyo and Ueno, between Ueno and Ōmiya, between Ōmiya and Utsunomiya, between Utsunomiya and Morioka, and between Morioka and the Seikan Tunnel. Trains slow to in the tunnel, except during periods when freight services are suspended, when the full is permitted. Between the Seikan Tunnel and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the maximum speed is.
The fastest services between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto take approximately 3 hours 57 minutes.
Train formation
Hayabusa services are normally operated by 10-car E5 series or H5 series trainsets, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. All seats are reserved and non-smoking.Hayabusa trains feature premium GranClass accommodation with 2+1 leather seating and complimentary food and drinks, including alcohol.
In 2021, payphones were removed from cars 3 and 5.
History
Sleeping car service (1958–2009)
The Hayabusa service commenced on 1 October 1958, operating between Tokyo and. From 20 July 1960, the train was upgraded with 20 series sleeping cars, and extended to run to and from Nishi-Kagoshima. From 9 March 1975, the train was upgraded with 24 series sleeping cars.The Hayabusa, along with its counterpart service, the Fuji, was discontinued from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2009 due to declining ridership.
Shinkansen service (2011–)
From 5 March 2011, the Hayabusa name was revived for the new shinkansen services operated by JR East between Tokyo and using new E5 series trainsets, and extended to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station on 26 March 2016.Rolling stock
The Hayabusa services use 10-car E5 series sets, which initially operated at a maximum speed of between Utsunomiya and Morioka. The maximum speed was raised to from the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013. From the same date, some services run coupled to E6 series Super Komachi services between Tokyo and Morioka. These services were limited to a maximum speed of. Although the train could run up to speeds of during test runs, from 2012 its top speed was fixed to 320 km/h for passenger and environmental comfort. Since 15 March 2014, the name of Super Komachi services was returned simply to Komachi, and the maximum speed has been raised to 320 km/h; from the same date, some Hayabusa services are operated by 10-car E5 series sets coupled to 7-car E6 series sets. At Morioka, the E5 series and E6 series sets decouple, with the E5 series set continuing along the Tohoku Shinkansen as the Hayabusa and the E6 series set turning onto the Akita Shinkansen as the Komachi.From 26 March 2016, with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hayabusa name was used for services operating between Tokyo, Sendai, and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. From the start of the 26 March 2016 timetable revision, ten return services operate daily between Tokyo and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and one return service daily operates between Sendai and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.