Kodama (Shinkansen)

is one of the three train services running on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines.
Stopping at every station, the ''Kodama'' is the slowest Shinkansen service for trips between major cities such as Tokyo and Osaka. The Kodama trains are used primarily for travel to and from smaller cities such as Atami. Travelers between major cities generally take the '' Nozomi'' or ''Hikari'' services, which make fewer stops, although the ''Nozomi'' requires paying a supplement under the Japan Rail Pass while the ''Kodama'' does not, making these services an affordable alternative.

Services

''Kodama'' trains generally run over shorter distances than ''Nozomi'' and ''Hikari'' trains. Typical ''Kodama'' runs include Tokyo - Nagoya / Shin-Osaka, Tokyo - Mishima / Shizuoka / Hamamatsu, Mishima / Shizuoka / Nagoya - Shin-Osaka, and Shin-Osaka / Okayama / Hiroshima - Hakata as well as some shorter late-night runs.

The trainsets used for ''Kodama'' service are the same 700 series, and N700 series trains used for the ''Hikari'' and ''Nozomi'' services. Older 100 series and 300 series trains were also used for ''Kodama'' services on the Sanyō Shinkansen until they were withdrawn in 2012. In December 2008, reconfigured 500 series trains entered ''Kodama'' service to replace the withdrawn Sanyō Shinkansen 0 series trains. Many Sanyō Shinkansen ''Kodama'' services continue to and from Hakataminami on the Hakataminami Line.

Most ''Kodama'' trains have both reserved and non-reserved cars; however, some morning ''Kodama'' trains to Tokyo and evening trains departing Tokyo have non-reserved cars only to accommodate commuters living in Kanagawa and Shizuoka.

The newest shinkansen trainset, the N700, is currently used on some early morning and late night ''Kodama'' runs between Kokura and Hakata stations in Kyushu. All standard-class cars are non-reserved, and, as with all other N700 services, there is no smoking on these trains except in designated on-board smoking rooms.

At most intermediate stations, ''Kodama'' trains wait for faster trains, including the ''Nozomi'', ''Hikari'', ''Sakura'', and ''Mizuho'', to pass through before resuming their journeys.

Stopping patterns (as of January 2024)

''Kodama'' trains stop at all stations between Tokyo and Hakata. In order from east to west, this comprises , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and .

No ''Kodama'' service operates the entire distance from Tokyo to Hakata. For this reason, a transfer is required at Shin-Osaka in order to proceed in either direction.

Rolling stock

* 500 series 8-car V sets
* 700-7000 series 8-car E sets
* N700A series 16-car X/K sets, modified from Z/N sets
* N700 series 8-car S/R

File:Shinkansen 500 (8086233447).jpg, JR West 500 series ''Kodama'', August 2010
File:JRW N700 series N3.jpg, JR West N700 series, April 2009

Former rolling stock

* 0 series
* 100 series
* 300 series
* 700-0 series
* 700-3000 series

File:R61 Kodama 635 Higashi-Hiroshima 20030719.JPG, JR West 0 series at Higashi-Hiroshima Station, July 2003
File:JRW Shinkansen Series 100 K55.jpg, JR West 100 series, October 2008
File:JRW Shinkansen Series 300 F6.jpg, JR West 300 series, October 2008
File:JRC 700 series C37.jpg, JR Central 700 series, April 2009

Pre-Shinkansen

* 151 series

Formations

N700 series (16 cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments located in cars 3, 7, 10, and 15.)

500 series (eight cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments in cars 3 and 7.)

N700 series (eight cars)

(All cars are no smoking except for smoking compartments in cars 3 and 7.)

700 series (eight cars)

(All cars are non-smoking.)

*G: Green car (first class) (reserved seating)
*R: Standard class reserved seating
*C: Standard class reserved seating + compartments
*NR: Standard class non-reserved seating

History

Limited express ''Kodama''

''Kodama'' debuted as a limited express service on the Tokaido Main Line on 1 November 1958. Services used 151 series trainsets. This was the first EMU train service of the Japanese National Railways classified as a limited express, the highest (fastest) of train types on the national railway system. The train travelled between Tokyo Station and Osaka Station in six hours and 50 minutes and first enabled passengers to go and return between the two cities in one day. This is why the train was named ''Kodama'', or echo.

A narrow gauge world speed record of 163 km/h was established by a 151 series ''Kodama'' trainset on 31 July 1959. The conventional ''Kodama'' train ran until 30 September 1964, the day before ''Kodama'' debuted on the Shinkansen.

Shinkansen ''Kodama''

The shinkansen ''Kodama'' services began on 1 October 1964, operating between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

On 17 March 2012, the remaining 100 series (K) sets were withdrawn from ''Kodama'' services and 700 series (8-car E set) ''Kodama'' services became entirely no-smoking. Onboard trolley refreshment services were discontinued on all JR Central ''Kodama'' services from 17 March 2012. Also, some of the 16-car 500 series that used to run as the ''Nozomi'' service were cut short to eight cars to run as the ''Kodama'' service.

In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains would be discontinued by Q2 2024; this took effect on 16 March 2024.

See also

* List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

{{JR West trains

Central Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
Railway services introduced in 1958
Named Shinkansen trains