The Akita Relay (秋田リレー) was a limited express train service operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan between March 1996 and March 1997.[2]
 KiHa 110-300 series DMU on an Akita Relay service at Akita Station, January 1997 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Tohoku region, Japan |
| Predecessor | Tazawa |
| First service | 30 March 1996 |
| Last service | 21 March 1997 |
| Successor | Komachi |
| Former operator(s) | JR East |
| Route | |
| Termini | Tokyo Akita |
| Line(s) used | Kitakami Line, Ōu Main Line |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Standard class only |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | KiHa 110-300 series DMU |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Operating speed | 100 km/h (60 mph)[1] |
Engineering work to convert the Tazawako Line between Morioka and Ōmagari from 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge for use by Akita Shinkansen services entailed the complete closure of the line between March 1996 and March 1997. The Tazawa limited express services that previously linked Morioka with Akita and Aomori were curtailed to run between Akita and Aomori only, and temporary Akita Relay limited express diesel services were operated instead between Kitakami on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Akita via the Kitakami Line and Ōu Main Line.[2]
Services commenced on 30 March 1996, with 10 "down" services and 11 "up" services operating daily using a specially built fleet of KiHa 110-300 series DMUs mostly in 4-car formations, but with some 3- or 7-car formations.[1] These trains featured 2+2 abreast unidirectional limited express style seating identical to the seating used in E217 series EMU Green cars.[3]
The Akita Relay services ended on 21 March 1997, the day before Akita Shinkansen Komachi services commenced between Morioka and Akita.[2] The KiHa 110-300 series DMUs were subsequently refitted with standard seating, renumbered as KiHa 110-200 series, and reassigned for use on other lines such as the Iiyama Line.[3]
Schedules
edit
Down (Kitakami → Akita)
edit| Service | Train No. | From | Depart | To | Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akita Relay 1 | 3001D | Kitakami | 09:26 | Akita | 11:31 |
| Akita Relay 3 | 3003D | Kitakami | 10:22 | Akita | 12:35 |
| Akita Relay 5 | 3005D | Kitakami | 11:24 | Akita | 13:38 |
| Akita Relay 7 | 3007D | Kitakami | 13:12 | Akita | 15:18 |
| Akita Relay 9 | 3009D | Kitakami | 14:18 | Akita | 16:46 |
| Akita Relay 11 | 3011D | Kitakami | 15:20 | Akita | 17:42 |
| Akita Relay 13 | 3013D | Kitakami | 16:17 | Akita | 18:35 |
| Akita Relay 15 | 3015D | Kitakami | 17:15 | Akita | 19:31 |
| Akita Relay 17 | 3017D | Kitakami | 18:57 | Akita | 21:10 |
| Akita Relay 19 | 3019D | Kitakami | 20:21 | Akita | 22:14 |
Up (Akita → Kitakami)
edit| Service | Train No. | From | Depart | To | Arrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akita Relay 2 | 3002D | Akita | 07:10 | Kitakami | 09:03 |
| Akita Relay 4 | 3004D | Akita | 08:04 | Kitakami | 10:05 |
| Akita Relay 6 | 3006D | Akita | 08:55 | Kitakami | 11:00 |
| Akita Relay 8 | 3008D | Akita | 10:04 | Kitakami | 12:06 |
| Akita Relay 10 | 3010D | Akita | 11:50 | Kitakami | 13:58 |
| Akita Relay 12 | 3012D | Akita | 12:51 | Kitakami | 14:58 |
| Akita Relay 14 | 3014D | Akita | 13:56 | Kitakami | 16:01 |
| Akita Relay 16 | 3016D | Akita | 14:48 | Kitakami | 16:57 |
| Akita Relay 18 | 3018D | Akita | 15:59 | Kitakami | 18:06 |
| Akita Relay 20 | 3020D | Akita | 17:00 | Kitakami | 19:14 |
| Akita Relay 22 | 3022D | Akita | 17:53 | Kitakami | 20:05 |
(Source:[4])
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b JR特急10年の歩み [10 Years of JR Limited Express Trains]. Japan: Kousai Shuppansha. May 1997. p. 131. ISBN 4-330-45697-4.
- ^ a b c Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8.
- ^ a b JR全車輛ハンドブック1997 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1997]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1997.
- ^ "新幹線開業前夜" [The Eve of Shinkansen Openings]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 50, no. 590. Japan: Koyusha. June 2010. p. 35.