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Akita Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
	An E6 series trainset on an Akita Shinkansen Komachi service in October 2016.
Overview
Native name	秋田新幹線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Iwate and Akita prefectures
Termini	Morioka; Akita;
Stations	6
Service
Type	Mini-shinkansen
Services	Komachi
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	E6 series
History
Opened	22 March 1997; 27 years ago
Technical
Line length	127.3 km (79.1 mi)
Number of tracks	Double-track and Single-track
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	20 kV 50 Hz AC (overhead catenary)
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route Map (from Morioka in blue)
Route Map (from Morioka in blue)

The Akita Shinkansen (秋田新幹線) is a Mini-shinkansen rail line in Japan. Serving the Kantō and Tōhoku Regions of the country, it links Tokyo and Akita in Akita prefecture. From Tokyo to Morioka in Iwate prefecture, it operates on the Tōhoku Shinkansen tracks. From Morioka to Ōmagari, it uses the Tazawako Line tracks. The section from Ōmagari to Akita uses the Ōu Main Line tracks.

Operations

Services consist of Komachi trains which are 7-car E6 series mini-shinkansen sets coupled with E5 series Hayabusa trains for the portion of the journey between Tokyo and Morioka.

The Komachi services run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and between Morioka and Akita, run as 7-car independent trains with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph).^[1] However, 110 km/h (70 mph) is more typical for the line through the hills east of Akita, with trains frequently slowing to 90 km/h (55 mph) for curves such as those south of Ugo. The line from Morioka to Akita is prone to deep snow.

The fastest timetabled journey between Akita and Tokyo currently takes 3 hours and 37 minutes calling at four or five stops in between.

Stations

Between Tokyo and Morioka, the stations are the same as those on the Tohoku Shinkansen. From there on, the stations are as shown below.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
Station	Japanese	From Tokyo	From Morioka	Transfers	Location
Morioka	盛岡	535.3	0.0	Tōhoku Shinkansen (for Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto) Tōhoku Main Line Yamada Line Tazawako Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	Morioka	Iwate Prefecture
Shizukuishi	雫石	552.9	16.0	Tazawako Line	Shizukuishi	Iwate Prefecture
Tazawako	田沢湖	579.4	40.1	Tazawako Line	Senboku	Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate	角館	600.0	58.8	Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line	Senboku
Ōmagari	大曲	618.5	75.6	Ōu Main Line, Tazawako Line	Daisen
Akita	秋田	670.2	127.3	Ōu Main Line, Uetsu Main Line, Oga Line	Akita

History

March 22, 1997: The segment from Morioka to Akita began operating with 5-car E3 series trains.
1998: Trains were extended to 6 cars.
September 16, 2001: line celebrates 10 millionth passenger.
March 11, 2006: line celebrates 20 millionth passenger.
March 18, 2007: All cars are made no smoking.
March 11, 2011: All services suspended due to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
March 18, 2011: Partial service resumes between Morioka and Akita. No through service to Tōhoku Shinkansen.
April 29, 2011: In conjunction with the reopening of the full length of the Tohoku Shinkansen, through service to Tokyo is restored.
March 16, 2013: New E6 series trains were introduced on Super Komachi services, operating at 300 km/h (185 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.^[2]
March 15, 2014: All Komachi services operated by E6 series trains, operating at 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.^[3]
July 22, 2017: All services between Ōmagari and Akita suspended due to flooding after heavy rain falls.
July 29, 2017: Service resumes.
February 13, 2021: Services suspended north of Nasushiobara Station due to the 2021 Fukushima earthquake.^[4]

Rolling stock

As of March 2020, the following types are used on Akita Shinkansen services.

E6 series 7-car sets, since 16 March 2013

Former rolling stock

E3 series 6-car sets (originally 5-car sets) withdrawn by 15 March 2014

Non-revenue-earning-types

East i (E926)

References

JR Timetable, June 2009 issue

^ 300km/hのトップランナー [300 km/h Top Runners]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 612. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. April 2012. p. 14.
^ 秋田新幹線の新しい列車名は"スーパーこまち"に [New trains on Akita Shinkansen to be named "Super Komachi"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
^ Yomiuri Shimbun: "JR東日本の新幹線 13年3月メドに「E6系」導入" (18 June 2009). Retrieved on 19 June 2009. (in Japanese)
^ "Tohoku Shinkansen line breaks from the base of utility poles" (in Japanese). TBS News. 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.