Akita Relay
KiHa 110-300 series DMU on an Akita Relay service at Akita Station, January 1997
Overview
Service typeLimited express
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleTohoku region, Japan
PredecessorTazawa
First service30 March 1996
Last service21 March 1997
SuccessorKomachi
Former operator(s)JR East
Route
TerminiTokyo
Akita
Line(s) usedKitakami Line, Ōu Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)Standard class only
Technical
Rolling stockKiHa 110-300 series DMU
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed100 km/h (60 mph)[1]

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]

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

4-car Akita Relay formation at Kitakami Station, February 1997

Down (Kitakami → Akita)

ServiceTrain No.FromDepartToArrive
Akita Relay 13001DKitakami09:26Akita11:31
Akita Relay 33003DKitakami10:22Akita12:35
Akita Relay 53005DKitakami11:24Akita13:38
Akita Relay 73007DKitakami13:12Akita15:18
Akita Relay 93009DKitakami14:18Akita16:46
Akita Relay 113011DKitakami15:20Akita17:42
Akita Relay 133013DKitakami16:17Akita18:35
Akita Relay 153015DKitakami17:15Akita19:31
Akita Relay 173017DKitakami18:57Akita21:10
Akita Relay 193019DKitakami20:21Akita22:14

Up (Akita → Kitakami)

ServiceTrain No.FromDepartToArrive
Akita Relay 23002DAkita07:10Kitakami09:03
Akita Relay 43004DAkita08:04Kitakami10:05
Akita Relay 63006DAkita08:55Kitakami11:00
Akita Relay 83008DAkita10:04Kitakami12:06
Akita Relay 103010DAkita11:50Kitakami13:58
Akita Relay 123012DAkita12:51Kitakami14:58
Akita Relay 143014DAkita13:56Kitakami16:01
Akita Relay 163016DAkita14:48Kitakami16:57
Akita Relay 183018DAkita15:59Kitakami18:06
Akita Relay 203020DAkita17:00Kitakami19:14
Akita Relay 223022DAkita17:53Kitakami20:05

(Source:[4])

See also

References

  1. 1 2 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.
  2. 1 2 3 Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8.
  3. 1 2 JR全車輛ハンドブック1997 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1997]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1997.
  4. ↑ "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.
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