Asama

Asama
E2 series Asama at Tokyo Station, June 2002
Service type	Shinkansen
Operator	JR East
Line used	Nagano Shinkansen
Maximum speed	260 km/h (160 mph)
Started	1961 (Semi-express) 1997 (Shinkansen)
Rolling stock	E2 series

Asama (あさま^?) is the name of a train service operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Nagano Shinkansen in Japan.^[1] The shinkansen service was introduced in October 1997, but the name was first used for a semi-express service operated by JNR in 1961.^[2]　"Asama" is the name of an active volcano (Mount Asama) near Karuizawa, on the boundary between Gunma and Nagano Prefecture.

Operations

As of 2008, Asama services operate between Tokyo and Karuizawa or Nagano using a dedicated fleet of fourteen 8-car E2 series "N" sets based at Nagano Depot.^[3] These were designed to maintain 260 km/h on the 30 km continuous gradient of 30‰ between Takasaki and Karuizawa. The fastest journey time is 1 hour 23 minutes between Tokyo and Nagano for Asama 518, with one stop, at Ōmiya, only.^[1]

Rolling stock

Currently used (as of February 2009)

• E2 series 8-car N sets (October 1997–Present)

Previously used

Specially modified 200 series set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen Asama service, February 1998

• E2 series 8-car J sets (October 1997–2002)
• 200 series 12-car F80 set (February 1998 only)
• E4 series 8-car P50/P80 sets, as Max Asama

Pre-shinkansen

189 series Asama service at Ōmiya Station, 1991

• 181 series EMU sets (October 1966–)
• 189 series EMU 9/11/12-car sets (October 1975–September 1997)
• 489 series EMU sets

History

Semi-express Asama

The name Asama was first introduced on 1 March 1961 for semi-express (準急, junkyū^?) services operating between Nagano and Niigata. This service operated until 30 November 1962, after which the train was renamed Akakura (赤倉^?). From 1 December 1962, the name was used for the semi-express services operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Nagano on the Shinetsu Line. This service continued until 30 September 1963, after which the train was renamed Maruike (丸池^?).^[2]

Limited express Asama

189 series Asama service at Karuizawa Station, September 1996

After a gap of three years, the name Asama was re-introduced from 1 October 1966 on the Limited express services operating between Ueno and Nagano or Naoetsu. By the late 1990s, there were 29 workings daily in each direction, formed of 9- or 11-car 189 series EMU formations. During the busy summer periods, a second Green car was sometimes added to increase formations to 12 cars.^[2]

Shinkansen Asama

From 1 October 1997, the name Asama was used for the services on the newly opened Nagano Shinkansen, operating between Tokyo and Nagano.^[1]

During the 1998 Winter Olympics in February 1998, additional services were provided using one specially modified 200 series train (set F80). Four E4 series double-decker "Max" trains (sets P51/52 and P81/82) were also specially built for seasonal use on the Nagano Shinkansen as Max Asama services, but only two (sets P81 and P82) are capable of travelling as far as Nagano because the line west of Karuizawa runs on a 60 Hz power supply, unlike the rest of the line that runs on a 50 Hz power supply.

From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Asama services were made entirely no-smoking.^[4]

References

External links

Media related to Asama (train) at Wikimedia Commons

• JR East E2 series (Japanese)

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