Tsubasa (Shinkansen)

Infobox j-rail service
name="Tsubasa"


caption= E3-1000 series "Tsubasa"
type=Shinkansen
operator=JR East
lines=Tōhoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen
maxspeed= 240 km/h
startyear=1992
endyear=
stock=400 Series Shinkansen, E3 Series ShinkansenThe nihongo|"Tsubasa"|つばさ is the only service running on the Yamagata Shinkansen, which started in 1992. The services are operated by twelve 7-car 400 series trains and three 7-car E3-1000 series trains, which are used interchangeably. They couple with E4 Series trains for their journey from Tokyo to Fukushima and travel at 240 km/h. "Tsubasa" trains are limited to 130 km/h on the Yamagata shinkansen from Fukushima to Shinjō since there are many sharp curves and level crossings, as the line is essentially a regauged narrow-gauge line.From March 2007, all "Tsubasa" trains were made entirely non-smoking. [ [http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~dajf/byunbyun/service.htm#yamagata "Shinkansen Routes and Services"] . Retrieved on 10 August 2008]

The Japanese word "tsubasa" means "wings".

A new build of twelve 7-car E3 series trains will replace the older 400 series trains between December 2008 and summer 2009. [cite press release| url=http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2007_1/20070705.pdf| format=PDF| title=山形新幹線「つばさ」用車両の新造について| language=Japanese| publisher=JR East| date=2007-07-03| accessdate=2008-08-10| ] ]

History

* 1 July 1992: Service starts using 6-car 400 Series Shinkansen attached to a 200 Series Shinkansen on Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Fukushima Station.
* 1 December 1995: Trains are extended to 7 cars.
* 4 December 1999: Service is extended to Shinjō Station. Two new E3-1000 series sets (L51 and L52) enter service.
* 21 September 2001: Double-decker E4 Series Shinkansen replace the 200 series trains on the Tōhoku Shinkansen.
* 2005: A third E3-1000 series trainset (L53) enters service.
* 18 March 2007: All cars are made non-smoking.
* December 2008: New trains enter service, replacing 400 series trainsets.

References

External links

* [http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/shinkan/400.html JR East 400 series "Tsubasa"] (Japanese)