Service type Shinkansen Locale Honshu/Hokkaido, Japan Current operator(s) JR East/JR Hokkaido | Status Operational First service 1 December 2002 Start Tokyo | |
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Hayate (はやて) is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated in Japan, on the Tohoku Shinkansen by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) since 2002 and on the Hokkaido Shinkansen by JR Hokkaido since 26 March 2016. It operates as far as the northern terminus of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and it is the second-fastest service on the Shinkansen lines, operating at a top speed of 275 km/h (170 mph) between Utsunomiya and Morioka. These services were inaugurated with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe on 1 December 2002.
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The name "Hayate" has not been used previously on any train service in Japan. The name was chosen with input from the public; roughly translated, it means a strong or violent wind; however, it carries positive connotations of speed and power.
JR East services
From its introduction in December 2002, the Hayate service used 10-car E2 series units. With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to the new northern terminus of Shin-Aomori from 4 December 2010, 15 return trips a day operating between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori, with one return trip between Sendai and Shin-Aomori and one return trip between Morioka and Shin-Aomori. The fastest service from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori is 3 hours 20 minutes.
From 19 November 2011, E5 series trainsets were also introduced on some Hayate services. These services are limited to the current maximum speed of 275 km/h. JR East Hayate services are coupled with Komachi services as far as Morioka, where the Komachi cars are uncoupled and proceed to Akita Station via the Akita Shinkansen. Due to the popularity of the fast train service from Tokyo to the Tohoku region, seat reservations are compulsory on both the Hayate and Komachi.
JR Hokkaido services
From 26 March 2016, with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hayate name is also used for services operating between Morioka, Shin-Aomori, and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. As of March 2016, one return service operates daily between Morioka and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and one return service daily operates between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. These services are formed of 10-car E5 or H5 series trainsets.
Stations
Hayate services stop at the following stations.
(*) These stations are not served by all trains. Most Hayate services terminate at Shin-Aomori station.
Rolling stock
Train formations
Hayate services are operated by 10-car JR East E2 series or E5 series trainsets, or JR Hokkaido H5 series, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. All seats are reserved and no-smoking.