Shinkansen Relay
The Shinkansen Relay was a temporary passenger train service operated by Japanese National Railways between 1982 and 1985 to bridge the incomplete southern section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Ōmiya Station in Saitama Prefecture and Ueno Station in Tokyo. When the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened on 23 June 1982, the planned southern section between Ōmiya Station and central Tokyo was not yet complete, following earlier legal challenges and community opposition along the corridor that led Japanese National Railways to suspend construction between Tokyo and Ōmiya while negotiations continued.
To maintain connectivity with Tokyo, the Shinkansen Relay operated non-stop between Ōmiya and Ueno over the narrow-gauge Tōhoku Main Line.
At the start of operations, the service ran 13 southbound and 14 northbound trains daily, completing the journey in approximately 26 minutes. From November 1982, frequencies were increased to nearly half-hourly daytime service, reflecting growing passenger demand. Trains were typically formed of paired 7-car 185-200 series electric multiple units, with each Relay service timed to connect with corresponding Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen services. Other rolling stock, including 455 series express and 115 series suburban EMUs, was used on a limited basis.
The Shinkansen Relay was discontinued on 13 March 1985, one day before the opening of the Shinkansen extension between Ōmiya and Ueno, which eliminated the need for transfer services. Following the service’s withdrawal, the 185-200 series trainsets were reassigned to other limited express duties.