The is a local high-speed Shinkansen service on the Hokuriku Shinkansen operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It operates between and in Japan. The Shinkansen service was introduced in October 1997, although the name Asama was first used for a limited express service operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1961. The service is named after Mount Asama, an active volcano near Karuizawa, on the boundary between Gunma and Nagano prefectures.

Operations

All 16 Asama services stop at , , , , , , , and . 11 of them make an additional stop at , , and .

Train formations

Asama services are operated using 12-car E7 series or W7 series trainsets formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. Car 11 is a "Green" car, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. Unlike Kagayaki services, however, a dedicated attendant service is not provided in Gran Class cars on Asama services. These trains included "Gran Class" seating arranged 2+1 abreast. E7 series trainsets were initially used on seven return services daily, with a further four return workings added from 19 April 2014. 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. All cars were no-smoking. with some services still operated by 8-car E2 series trains.

The last services operated using eight-car E2 series trainsets ran on 31 March 2017, from which date all Asama services were formed of E7 and W7 series trainsets.

See also

  • List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

  • JR East E7 series Kagayaki/Hakutaka/Asama/Toki/Tanigawa