Nozomi (Shinkansen)

Infobox j-rail service
name="Nozomi"

---

caption=N700 Series "Nozomi" Shinkansen, September 2007
type=Super Express
operator=JR Central, JR West
lines=Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanyō Shinkansen
maxspeed=300 km/h
startyear=1992
endyear=
stock=300/500/700/N700 series

nihongo|"Nozomi"|のぞみ is the fastest train service running on the Tōkaidō/Sanyō Shinkansen. Along the stretch between Shin-Kobe and Hakata, "Nozomi" services using 500 series and N700 series equipment reach speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph). The trip between Tokyo and Osaka, a distance of 515 kilometers, takes only 2.5 hours on the "Nozomi".

The 300 Series Shinkansen, 500 Series Shinkansen, 700 Series Shinkansen, and N700 Series Shinkansen are presently used for "Nozomi" services. The latest, the N700, was introduced on "Nozomi" services on July 1, 2007, with four daily round-trip runs. [ cite web|url=http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~dajf/byunbyun/ttable/highlights.htm |title=Shinkansen Timetable Highlights and Rare Workings |accessdate=2007-04-16 |last=Fossett |first=Dave A. J. |date=2007-04-04] It is projected that all through "Nozomi" services (i.e. Tokyo-Hakata) will be operated by N700 trains by 2009, and all regularly-scheduled "Nozomi" services will be operated by N700 trains by 2011.

The trains stop at slightly fewer stations than the "Hikari" trains. On the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Nozomi trains stop at Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, Kyoto Station, and Shin-Ōsaka Station. On the Sanyō line, all Nozomi trains stop at Shin-Kobe Station, Okayama Station, Hiroshima Station, Kokura Station, and Hakata Station. Certain "Nozomi" trains stop at additional stations as well.The "Nozomi" is the only JR daytime train service not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The word "nozomi" in Japanese means "hope" or "wish". It was selected since something faster than the existing services "Hikari", "light, ray", and "Kodama", "echo", was needed.

"Nozomi" began service on March 14 1992.

Nozomi stopping patterns (as of March 2008)

Key
● All trains stop
▲ Some trains stop
▬ No trains stop/Service does not run here
(###) Train numbers included in/excluded from table
¹ Some trains begin/terminate in Nishi-Akashi, Himeji, Okayama or Hiroshima.
² Some trains begin/terminate in Nagoya.

"Note: Basic Nozomi stopping patterns are shown. Additional Nozomi trains with differing stopping patterns are added during holiday and high-peak travel periods, and are not included in this table."

References

* "ＪＲ新幹線＆特急列車ファイル" (JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File), published 2008 by Kōtsū Shimbun
* JR Timetable, March 2008 issue