Azusa (train)

The is a limited express service operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which mainly run between and via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line. The name ''Azusa'' is taken from the Azusa River in Matsumoto, Nagano. On the Chūō Main Line, limited express ''Kaiji'' also runs between / , and / .

The name ''Super Azusa'' () was used for services operated with tilting rolling stock, namely the E351 series, and the E353 series (prior to 16 March 2019).

Service pattern and stops

As of March 2025, 16 round trips are operated every day. All trains run on the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line, with few of them also running on the Sōbu Main Line and Ōito Line. Prior to March 2025, the trip currently terminating at instead traveled four stations further to .

Stops

* No brackets denote stations at which most or all ''Azusa'' services stop.
* Parentheses () denote stations at which some ''Azusa'' services stop.
* Square brackets【】denote stations at which very few ''Azusa'' services stop.

【 Chiba - Funabashi - Kinshichō / Tokyo】- Shinjuku - Tachikawa - Hachiōji -【 Ōtsuki - Enzan - Yamanashishi - Isawa-Onsen】- Kōfu - ( Nirasaki) - Kobuchizawa -【 Fujimi】- Chino - Kami-Suwa -【 Shimo-Suwa】- Okaya - Shiojiri - Matsumoto -【 Toyoshina - Hotaka - Shinano-Ōmachi - Hakuba】

Ticketing

A limited express ticket has to be purchased to board an ''Azusa'' train, along with the basic fare ticket. There are two types of such limited express tickets, namely the , and the .

The Reserved Seat Ticket enables a specified seat to be reserved for the holder. The reserved status for the seat is signified by a green overhead lamp on top of the corresponding seat.

The Unreserved Seat Ticket enables the holder to be seated on any unreserved seat. A red overhead lamp signifies that the seat is unreserved; while a yellow overhead lamp signifies that the seat is reserved for the later part of the journey, implying that one has to give up their seat to the passenger who has reserved the seat and change to another vacant seat, when they board the train later.

Extra services

''Kiso Azusa''

The was an extra limited express service that was operated in 2017 and 2018, as a part of the to boost tourism to Nagano Prefecture (Shinshū is an old name for the region). The extra train operated on the Chūō Main Line between Shinjuku to Nagiso, via Tatsuno. With consideration that tourists would be staying the night around the area, the inbound train to Shinjuku was operated the day after the outbound train to Nagiso has arrived.

In 2018, the train operated 2 round trips during the campaign duration.

Stops

Shinjuku - Tachikawa - Hachiōji - Kōfu - Chino - Kami-Suwa - Okaya - Tatsuno - Shiojiri - Narai - Kiso-Fukushima - Nagiso

Rolling stock

* 189 series 6-car EMUs (Ordinary class, reserved seats only)

Rolling stock

* E353 series EMUs (since 23 December 2017)

File:E353 Super Azusa Kokubunzhi Station 20180407.jpg, An E353 series train in April 2018

From 23 December 2017, new E353 series EMUs were introduced on ''Super Azusa'' services. By March 2018, all ''Super Azusa'' services were replaced by E353 series trains, and the E257 series trainsets used on ''Azusa'' services by 16 March 2019. Following the unification of all ''Super Azusa'' and ''Azusa'' services into E353 series, the name ''Super Azusa'' was abolished.

Rolling stock previously used

* 181 series 10-car EMUs (from 1966)
* 183 series EMUs (from 1972)
* 165 series EMUs (from 1966)
* E351 series EMUs (''Super Azusa'', from December 1993 to March 2018)
*E257 series EMUs (from December 2001 to 16 March 2019, still used on extra services)
* 189 series EMUs (from 1975)

File:181 Azusa 8 Shinjuku 19750119.jpg, A 181 series EMU on an ''Azusa'' service in 1975
File:165 M3 Kaiji Mitaka 20030712.jpg, A 165 series EMU
File:JR east E351.jpg, An E351 series EMU on a ''Super Azusa'' service in July 2010
File:JR East E257 Limited Express Azusa.jpg, An E257 series EMU on an ''Azusa'' service in January 2008

Formations

Current formation

''Azusa'' (E353 series)

All ''Azusa'' services (E353 series) are formed of nine cars as shown below, numbered 4 to 12, with car 4 at the Shinjuku end.

Past formations

''Azusa'' (E257 series)

''Azusa'' services (E257 series) were formed of 2+9-car or 9-car sets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Chiba/Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking.

''Super Azusa'' (E353 series)

From March 2018 to March 2019, ''Super Azusa'' services were formed of 3+9-car E353 series trainsets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking. There were days when car 3 operates as a reserved seating car.

History

The ''Azusa'' service began on 1 October 1957 as a semi express operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. This operated until 24 April 1960 when it was absorbed into ''Hakuba'' semi express services.

The ''Azusa'' name was revived from 12 December 1966 for use on limited express services operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto.

The premier ''Super Azusa'' service commenced on 3 December 1994 with the delivery of the first new E351 series tilting EMUs.

New E257 series EMUs were introduced on ''Azusa'' services from the start of the revised timetable on 1 December 2001.

Smoking was prohibited in all cars from 18 March 2007.

From 16 March 2019 onwards, with the replacement of E257 series trains to E353 series trains on all Azusa services, the name ''Super Azusa'' were discontinued and were integrated with ''Azusa'' services.

See also

* List of named passenger trains of Japan
* ''Kaiji'', another limited express service operated on the Chūō Line

References

External links

JR E257 ''Azusa/Kaiji''

{{JR East trains

Named passenger trains of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
Railway services introduced in 1957
1957 establishments in Japan