Tsubame (train)

The is a train service operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) on the Kyushu Shinkansen in Japan since 2004.

The word in Japanese means "swallow", and has been used on a succession of limited express trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Line in Japan since 1930.

History

Pre-war

The ''Tsubame'' name (originally written as "燕") was first used from 1 October 1930 for limited express services operating between and , hauled by JNR Class C51 and JNR Class C53 steam locomotives. These services operated until 30 September 1943.

Post-war

The name was revived (this time written as "つばめ") from 1 January 1950 for limited express services operating between Tokyo and , hauled by JNR Class C62 steam and JNR Class EF58 electric locomotives, and later by 151 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. From 1 October 1964, following the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the name was reassigned to limited express trains operating between and . From 1 October 1965, services were extended to operate between and Hakata, operated by 481 and 583 series EMUs. These services continued until 9 March 1975 (when the San'yō Shinkansen was fully in operation).

JR Kyushu

The ''Tsubame'' name was once again revived by JR Kyushu from 15 July 1992 for limited express services operating on the Kagoshima Main Line between / and Nishi-Kagoshima (now Kagoshima-Chūō Station), operated using new 787 series EMUs in 6-, 7-, or 11-car formations.
These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen opened.

''Relay Tsubame''

With the start of services on the Kyushu Shinkansen between and from 13 March 2004, new ''Relay Tsubame'' services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line between and using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations. The operation of the ''Relay Tsubame'' service was unique, as it was the only station in Japan where normal trains stopped at platforms adjacent to the shinkansen platforms. This was to facilitate transfer of passengers from shinkansen to ''Relay Tsubame'' and vice versa. Normally, shinkansen platforms are physically separated from normal train platforms with fare gates and may be at a different level (usually above the normal train platforms).

When the remainder of the Kyushu Shinkansen was opened on 12 March 2011, the ''Tsubame'' became an all-stations service (similar to the '' Kodama'' on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen), operating primarily as shuttle services between Hakata and . Services operate twice per hour in each direction during the morning and evening, and once per hour during the middle of the day. Some ''Tsubame'' services also run to/from Kagoshima-Chūō.

Rolling stock

Shinkansen train services are formed of eight-car N700 series (JR West N700-7000 series and JR Kyushu N700-8000 series) trains or six-car JR Kyushu 800 series trains.

File:Series800 U001.jpg, A JR Kyushu 800 series train set in January 2022
File:Shinkansen N700-7000 S1 (49766090102).jpg, A JR West N700-7000 series trainset
File:Shinkansen N700-8000 R6 at Nishi-Askashi Station 2019-11-15 (49765248278).jpg, A JR Kyushu N700-8000 series trainset

Formations

N700 series

Eight-car N700 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. Cars 1 to 3 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, and cars 4 to 8 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating. Half of car 6 has "Green car" (first class) 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking since the smoking ban in March 2024.

On some train services, cars 4 and 5 are also non-reserved.

File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Green-seat.jpg, N700-7000 series Green car interior
File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Reserved-seat.jpg, N700-7000 series standard-class reserved car interior
File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Ordinary-seat.jpg, N700-7000 series standard-class non-reserved car interior

800 series

Six-car 800 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. All accommodation is ordinary class with 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking.

On some train services, car 4 is also non-reserved.

File:Shinkansen 800 Series Interior-3.jpg, Interior of an 800 series car

References

External links

JR Kyushu ''Tsubame'' information

{{JR Kyushu trains

Railway services introduced in 1930
Railway services introduced in 2004
Named Shinkansen trains