Tsubame (train)
Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train service
title: "Tsubame (train)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["railway-services-introduced-in-1930", "railway-services-introduced-in-2004", "named-shinkansen-trains"] description: "Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train service" topic_path: "general/railway-services-introduced-in-1930" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsubame_(train)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train service ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox rail service"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Tsubame |
| image | Kyushu Shinkansen 800 series Shin-Minamata 20041123.jpg |
| caption | 800 Series Shinkansen Tsubame at Shin-Minamata Station in November 2004 |
| type | Shinkansen (Local) |
| status | Operational |
| locale | Kyushu Shinkansen |
| first | 1 October 1930 (Limited express) |
| 13 March 2004 (Shinkansen) | |
| operator | JR Kyushu |
| formeroperator | JNR |
| start | |
| end | |
| class | Ordinary class + Green class |
| catering | Trolley refreshment service |
| stock | 800 series/N700-7000 series/N700-8000 series |
| gauge | |
| el | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz |
| speed | 260 km/h |
| :: |
| name = Tsubame | image = Kyushu Shinkansen 800 series Shin-Minamata 20041123.jpg | caption = 800 Series Shinkansen Tsubame at Shin-Minamata Station in November 2004 | type = Shinkansen (Local) | status = Operational | locale = Kyushu Shinkansen | predecessor = | first = 1 October 1930 (Limited express) 13 March 2004 (Shinkansen) | last = | successor = | operator = JR Kyushu | formeroperator = JNR | ridership = | start = | stops = | end = or | distance = | journeytime = | frequency = | trainnumber = | class = Ordinary class + Green class | access = | seating = | catering = Trolley refreshment service | stock = 800 series/N700-7000 series/N700-8000 series | gauge = | el = 25 kV AC, 60 Hz | speed = 260 km/h | owners = | routenumber = | map = | map_state =
The Tsubame is a train service operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) on the Kyushu Shinkansen in Japan since 2004.
The word tsubame in Japanese means "swallow", and has been used on a succession of limited express trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Main Line in Japan since 1930.
History
Pre-war
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/JGR_C5343_hauling_train.jpg" caption="Nishiakashi]], circa 1934."] ::
The Tsubame name (originally written as "燕") was first used from 1 October 1930 for limited express services operating between and , hauled by JNR Class C51 and JNR Class C53 steam locomotives. These services operated until 30 September 1943.
Post-war
| align = left | direction = vertical | header = | width = 215 | image1 = JNR C62 36 "Tsubame".jpg | caption1 = A JNR Class C62 hauling the Tsubame service near Kyoto | image2 = 151 Fuji Yokohama.jpg | caption2 = Series 151 EMUs, which were used for the Tsubame service after 1958
The name was revived (this time written as "つばめ") from 1 January 1950 for limited express services operating between Tokyo and , hauled by JNR Class C62 steam and JNR Class EF58 electric locomotives, and later by 151 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. From 1 October 1964, following the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the name was reassigned to limited express trains operating between and . From 1 October 1965, services were extended to operate between and Hakata, operated by 481 and 583 series EMUs. These services continued until 9 March 1975 (when the San'yō Shinkansen was fully in operation).
JR Kyushu
The Tsubame name was once again revived by JR Kyushu from 15 July 1992 for limited express services operating on the Kagoshima Main Line between / and Nishi-Kagoshima (now Kagoshima-Chūō Station), operated using new 787 series EMUs in 6-, 7-, or 11-car formations. These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen opened.
''Relay Tsubame''
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Shin-Yatsushiro-Station_platform_11-12_20100626.jpg" caption="A 787 series ''Relay Tsubame'' train (left) and 800 series ''Tsubame'' shinkansen train (right) at Shin-Yatsushiro Station in June 2010"] ::
With the start of services on the Kyushu Shinkansen between and from 13 March 2004, new Relay Tsubame services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line between and using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations. The operation of the Relay Tsubame service was unique, as it was the only station in Japan where normal trains stopped at platforms adjacent to the shinkansen platforms. This was to facilitate transfer of passengers from shinkansen to Relay Tsubame and vice versa. Normally, shinkansen platforms are physically separated from normal train platforms with fare gates and may be at a different level (usually above the normal train platforms).
When the remainder of the Kyushu Shinkansen was opened on 12 March 2011, the Tsubame became an all-stations service (similar to the Kodama on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen), operating primarily as shuttle services between Hakata and . Services operate twice per hour in each direction during the morning and evening, and once per hour during the middle of the day. Some Tsubame services also run to/from Kagoshima-Chūō. One morning roundtrip, Tsubame 302, operates to and , and returns to Kumamoto as Tsubame 321.
Rolling stock
Shinkansen train services are formed of eight-car N700 series (JR West N700-7000 series and JR Kyushu N700-8000 series) trains or six-car JR Kyushu 800 series trains.
File:Series800 U001.jpg|A JR Kyushu 800 series train set in January 2022 File:Shinkansen N700-7000 S1 (49766090102).jpg|A JR West N700-7000 series trainset File:Shinkansen N700-8000 R6 at Nishi-Askashi Station 2019-11-15 (49765248278).jpg|A JR Kyushu N700-8000 series trainset
Formations
N700 series
Eight-car N700 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. Cars 1 to 3 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, and cars 4 to 8 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating. Half of car 6 has "Green car" (first class) 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking since the smoking ban in March 2024.
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved | Reserved | |
| :: |
On some train services, cars 4 and 5 are also non-reserved.
File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Green-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series Green car interior File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Reserved-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series standard-class reserved car interior File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Ordinary-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series standard-class non-reserved car interior
800 series
Six-car 800 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. All accommodation is ordinary class with 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking.
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | ||
| :: |
On some train services, car 4 is also non-reserved.
File:Shinkansen 800 Series Interior-3.jpg|Interior of an 800 series car
References
References
- Kōtsū Shimbun. (August 2008)
- Railway Journal. (August 1995)
- Ikaros Publishing. (July 2000)
- {{cite press release. link. JR Kyushu. (17 December 2010)
- https://www.jrkyushu-timetable.jp/sp/2510/0019/00192601.html?t=2862600&d=20251006
- https://www.jrkyushu-timetable.jp/sp/2510/0028/00281901.html?t=2814401&d=20251006
- "Smokers bitter as cigarettes banned on all Shinkansen lines {{!}} The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis".
- (February 2015). "JR Timetable". Kotsu Shimbunsha.
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