Hayate (train)

Hayate

E5 series set U6 on a Hayate service, November 2011
Overview
Service type	Shinkansen
Locale	Honshu, Japan
First service	1 December 2002
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Start	Tokyo
End	Shin-Aomori
Distance travelled	674.9 km (419.4 mi)
Service frequency	Hourly
Line used	Tohoku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard + Green + Gran Class
Catering facilities	Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock	E2 series, E5 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC overhead
Operating speed	275 km/h (170 mph)

Hayate (はやて) is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated on the Tohoku Shinkansen in Japan by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since 2002. It operates as far as the northern terminus of Shin-Aomori, and it is the second-fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen, operating at a top speed of 275 km/h (170 mph) between Utsunomiya and Morioka. These services were inaugurated with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe on 1 December 2002.

The name "Hayate" has not been used previously on any train service in Japan. The name was chosen with input from the public; roughly translated, it means a strong or violent wind; however, it carries positive connotations of speed and power.

Service pattern

From its introduction in 2002, the Hayate service used 10-car E2 Series Shinkansen units. With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to the new northern terminus of Shin-Aomori from 4 December 2010, 15 return trips a day operating between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori, with one return trip between Sendai and Shin-Aomori and one return trip between Morioka and Shin-Aomori. The fastest service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori is 3 hours 20 minutes.

From 19 November 2011, E5 series trainsets were also introduced on some Hayate services. These services are limited to the current maximum speed of 275 km/h.

Hayate services are coupled with Komachi services as far as Morioka, where the Komachi cars are uncoupled and proceed to Akita Station via the Akita Shinkansen. Due to the popularity of the fast train service from Tokyo to the Tōhoku region, seat reservations are compulsory on both the Hayate and Komachi.

Stations

Hayate services stop at the following stations.

• Tokyo
• Ueno*
• Ōmiya
• Sendai
• Furukawa*
• Kurikoma-Kōgen*
• Ichinoseki*
• Mizusawa-Esashi*
• Kitakami*
• Shin-Hanamaki*
• Morioka
• Iwate-Numakunai*
• Ninohe*
• Hachinohe*
• Shichinohe-Towada*
• Shin-Aomori

(*) These stations are not served by all trains.

Train formations

E2 series Hayate at Iwate-Numakunai Station, March 2007

Hayate services are operated by 10-car E2 series or E5 series trainsets, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. All seats are reserved and no-smoking.

E2 series Hayate

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Class	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Green	Standard
Facilities				Cardphone				Cardphone	Wheelchair space	Wheelchair space

E5 series Hayate

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Class	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Green	Gran Class
Facilities			Cardphone		Cardphone/ Wheelchair space				Wheelchair space

Future developments

From 26 March 2016, with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hayate name will be used for services operating between Morioka, Shin-Aomori, and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. From the start of the 26 March 2016 timetable revision, one return service will operate daily between Morioka and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and one return service daily will operate between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. These services will be formed of 10-car E5 or H5 series trainsets.

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan

External links

• JR East E2 series Hayate (Japanese)
• JR East E5 series Hayabusa/Hayate (Japanese)