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Asama

An E7 series set on anAsama service in August 2020
Overview
Service type	Shinkansen (Local)
Status	Operational
Locale	Japan
First service	1 March 1961 (Semi-express) 1 October 1997 (Shinkansen)
Current operator	JR East
Former operator	JNR
Route
Termini	Tokyo Nagano
Line used	Hokuriku Shinkansen
On-board services
Class	Standard + Green + Gran Class
Catering facilities	Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock	E7 series,W7 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC 50/60Hzoverhead
Operating speed	260 km/h (160 mph)

TheAsama (あさま) is a high-speedShinkansen train service operated byEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) on theHokuriku Shinkansen in Japan.^[1] The shinkansen service was introduced in October 1997, but the name was first used for a semi-express service operated byJapanese National Railways (JNR) in 1961.^[2] “Asama" is the name of an active volcano (Mount Asama) nearKaruizawa, on the boundary betweenGunma andNagano Prefecture.

All 16Asama services stop atTokyo,Ueno,Ōmiya,Takasaki,Karuizawa,Sakudaira,Ueda, andNagano. 11 of them make an additional stop atKumagaya,Honjō-Waseda, andAnnaka-Haruna.

Asama services are operated using 12-carE7 series orW7 series trainsets formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.^[3] Car 11 is a "Green" car, and car 12 is a "Gran Class" car with 2+1 seating. Unlike on Tohoku ShinkansenHayabusa services, however, a dedicated attendant service is not provided in Gran Class cars onAsama services.^[4] All cars are no-smoking.^[4]

• 
  Interior of an E7 series Gran Class car 12
• 
  Interior of an E7 series Green car 11
• 
  Interior of an E7 series ordinary-class car 10

• E7 series 12-car F sets (since 15 March 2014)
• W7 series 12-car W sets (since 14 March 2015)

Services were initially operated using a dedicated fleet of fourteen 8-carE2 series "N" sets based at Nagano Shinkansen Depot.^[3] Trains are designed to maintain speeds of 260 km/h (160 mph) on the 30 km continuous gradient of 30‰ betweenTakasaki and Karuizawa.

NewE7 series 12-car sets, also based at Nagano Depot, were introduced onAsama services from the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014.^[5] 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.^[5] JR WestW7 series 12-car sets, based at Hakusan Depot, were introduced from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015.

• 
  An E7 series set on anAsama service in February 2021

• E2 series 8-car J sets (from 1 October 1997 until 2002)
• E2 series 8-car N sets (from 1 October 1997 until 31 March 2017)
• 200 series 12-car F80 set (February 1998 only)
• E4 series 8-car P50/P80 sets, asMax Asama (22 July 2001 - 15 September 2003)

• 
  An 8-car Nagano Shinkansen E2 series set J6 arriving at Karuizawa Station on a Tokyo-boundAsama service in February 1998
• 
  A JR East E2 series set N11 arriving at Tokyo Station on anAsama service in June 2002
• 
  An E4 series set
• 
  Modified set F80 on a Nagano ShinkansenAsama service in February 1998

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

The nameAsama was first introduced on 1 March 1961 for semi-express (準急,junkyū) services operating betweenNagano andNiigata. This service operated until 30 November 1962, after which the train was renamedAkakura (赤倉). From 1 December 1962, the name was used for the semi-express services operating betweenUeno in Tokyo andNagano on theShinetsu Line. This service continued until 30 September 1963, after which the train was renamedMaruike (丸池).^[2]

After a gap of three years, the nameAsama was re-introduced from 1 October 1966 on theLimited express services operating betweenUeno andNagano orNaoetsu. By the late 1990s, there were 29 workings daily in each direction, formed of 9- or 11-car189 series EMU formations. During the busy summer periods, a secondGreen car was sometimes added to increase formations to 12 cars.^[2]

The typical 11-car 189 series formation in 1995 was as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end.^[2]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Numbering	KuHa 189	MoHa 188	MoHa 189	MoHa 188	MoHa 189	SaRo 189	MoHa 188	MoHa 189	MoHa 188	MoHa 189	KuHa 189
Accommodation	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved

From 1 October 1997, the nameAsama was used for the services on the newly openedNagano Shinkansen (absorbed into the Hokuriku Shinkansen from 2015), operating betweenTokyo andNagano.^[1]

During the1998 Winter Olympics in February 1998, additional services were provided using one specially modified200 series train (set F80), limited to a maximum speed of 210 km/h.^[6] FourE4 series double-decker "Max" trains (sets P51/52 and P81/82) were also specially built for seasonal use on the Nagano Shinkansen asMax 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.^[3]

The services operated usingE2 series eight-car sets (until 31 March 2017) were formed as follows. Car 7 was a "Green" (first class) car.^[4] All cars were no-smoking.^[4]

• 
  Interior of an E2 series Green car
• 
  Interior of an E2 series ordinary-class car

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, newE7 series 12-car trainsets were introduced onAsama services.^[5] Initially used on seven return services daily, this number was increased to eleven return services daily from 19 April 2014.^[5]

Following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension beyond Nagano to Kanazawa in 2015, theAsama name continued to be used for those services operating between Tokyo and Nagano,^[7] with some services still operated by 8-car E2 series trains.^[8]

The last services operated using eight-car E2 series trainsets ran on 31 March 2017, from which date allAsama services were formed of E7 and W7 series trainsets.^[9]

• List of named passenger trains of Japan

Wikimedia Commons has media related toAsama (train).

• JR East E7 seriesKagayaki/Hakutaka/Asama/Toki/Tanigawa(in Japanese)

• East Japan Railway Company
• Railway services introduced in 1961
• Named Shinkansen trains
• Hokuriku Shinkansen

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