Ayame (train)
Japanese limited express train service (1975–2015)
title: "Ayame (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["east-japan-railway-company", "named-passenger-trains-of-japan", "railway-services-introduced-in-1975", "railway-services-discontinued-in-2015", "sōbu-main-line"] description: "Japanese limited express train service (1975–2015)" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayame_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese limited express train service (1975–2015) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Ayame |
| image | JRE seriesE257 type500 LimitedExpressAyame.jpg |
| image_width | 300px |
| caption | An E257-500 series on an Ayame service in June 2012 |
| type | Limited express |
| locale | Kanto region, Japan |
| status | Discontinued |
| first | 10 March 1975 |
| last | 13 March 2015 |
| formeroperator | |
| start | |
| end | or |
| frequency | 2 return workings daily |
| line_used | Sobu Main Line, Narita Line |
| stock | E257-500 series EMUs |
| class | Ordinary class only |
| seating | Unidirectional 2+2 |
| gauge | |
| el | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| speed | 130 km/h |
| :: |
| name = Ayame | image = JRE seriesE257 type500 LimitedExpressAyame.jpg | image_width = 300px | caption = An E257-500 series on an Ayame service in June 2012 | type = Limited express | locale = Kanto region, Japan | status = Discontinued | first = 10 March 1975 | last = 13 March 2015 | operator = | formeroperator = | start = | stops = | end = or | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = 2 return workings daily | trainnumber = | line_used = Sobu Main Line, Narita Line | stock = E257-500 series EMUs | class = Ordinary class only | seating = Unidirectional 2+2 | gauge = | el = 1,500 V DC overhead | speed = 130 km/h
The Ayame was a limited express train operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between , and via . First introduced in 1975, the last service ran on 13 March 2015.
History
The Ayame service was first introduced on 10 March 1975, initially as four return workings daily between Tokyo and Kashima-Jingu.
The late 1980s saw increased competition from long-distance bus services between Tokyo and Kashima, and from the July 1993 timetable revision, the number of Ayame services was reduced to three return workings daily. In December 1994, services were further cut back, with just one up service in the morning and one down service in the evening. From the October 2004 timetable revision, the complementary Suigō limited express ( to via Narita Line) and Hometown Narita services were discontinued and the number of Ayame services was correspondingly increased to four up and two down services daily. From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Ayame services were made entirely no-smoking.
By March 2014, there were two return Ayame workings daily: one return working between Tokyo and Kashima-Jingu, and one between Tokyo and Chōshi. The services operated as all-stations "Local" services between Sawara and Kashima-Jingu or Chōshi. The down Ayame 3 service from Tokyo to Choshi operated coupled to the weekdays-only Shiosai 17 service (to ) as far as , where the trains divided.
From the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, the remaining Ayame services were discontinued due to low ridership amid competition by bus services, despite the fact that its scheduled travel time between Tokyo and Kashima-Jingu was only one hour and 43 minutes, about 40 minutes faster than bus schedules.
Rolling stock
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/183_Ayame_Kinshicho_20051117.JPG" caption="A 183 series EMU on an ''Ayame'' service in 2005"] ::
- 183 series 6-car EMUs
- E257-500 series 5-car EMUs (December 2005 – March 2015)
Formations
Trains were formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. All cars were ordinary class and non-reserved.
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Numbering | Accommodation | Facilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KuHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-1500 | MoHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-500 | KuHa E257-500 | ||||
| Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | ||||
| Toilet | Toilet | Toilet | ||||||
| :: |
References
References
- Kōtsū Shimbun. (2008)
- Kotsu Shimbunsha. (March 2014)
- Railway Journal. (August 1995)
- Ikaros Publications Ltd.. (20 December 2012)
- JR East press release: [http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2005_1/20050915.pdf "2005年12月ダイヤ改正について" (30 September 2005)]. Retrieved on 3 September. {{in lang. ja
- link. Sankei News. The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. (13 March 2015)
- Kotsu Shimbunsha. (30 May 2014)
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::