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)
Service
Train No.
From
Depart
To
Arrive
Akita Relay 1
3001D
Kitakami
09:26
Akita
11:31
Akita Relay 3
3003D
Kitakami
10:22
Akita
12:35
Akita Relay 5
3005D
Kitakami
11:24
Akita
13:38
Akita Relay 7
3007D
Kitakami
13:12
Akita
15:18
Akita Relay 9
3009D
Kitakami
14:18
Akita
16:46
Akita Relay 11
3011D
Kitakami
15:20
Akita
17:42
Akita Relay 13
3013D
Kitakami
16:17
Akita
18:35
Akita Relay 15
3015D
Kitakami
17:15
Akita
19:31
Akita Relay 17
3017D
Kitakami
18:57
Akita
21:10
Akita Relay 19
3019D
Kitakami
20:21
Akita
22:14
Up (Akita → Kitakami)
Service
Train No.
From
Depart
To
Arrive
Akita Relay 2
3002D
Akita
07:10
Kitakami
09:03
Akita Relay 4
3004D
Akita
08:04
Kitakami
10:05
Akita Relay 6
3006D
Akita
08:55
Kitakami
11:00
Akita Relay 8
3008D
Akita
10:04
Kitakami
12:06
Akita Relay 10
3010D
Akita
11:50
Kitakami
13:58
Akita Relay 12
3012D
Akita
12:51
Kitakami
14:58
Akita Relay 14
3014D
Akita
13:56
Kitakami
16:01
Akita Relay 16
3016D
Akita
14:48
Kitakami
16:57
Akita Relay 18
3018D
Akita
15:59
Kitakami
18:06
Akita Relay 20
3020D
Akita
17:00
Kitakami
19:14
Akita Relay 22
3022D
Akita
17:53
Kitakami
20:05
(Source:[ 4] )
See also
References
^ a b 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 .
^ a b c Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen ]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8 .
^ a b JR全車輛ハンドブック1997 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1997 ]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1997.
^ "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.
Shinkansen Limited express (daytime)Rapid Local Excursion Discontinued Shinkansen Discontinued Limited express (Daytime) Discontinued Limited express (overnight) Discontinued Express Discontinued Rapid Discontinued Liner Discontinued Excursion