| Locale | Tōhoku region |
|---|---|
| First | 20 November 1945 (Express) 20 March 1971 (Limited express) 23 June 1982 (Shinkansen) |
| Last | 30 September 1997 |
| Successor | Nasuno, Yamabiko |
| Formeroperator | JNR JR East |
| Distance | 325.4 km (202.2 mi) |
| Frequency | Hourly |
| Class | Standard + Green |
| Stock | 200 series, E1 series |
| El | 25 kV AC overhead |
| Speed | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
Aoba (あおば(青葉), named after Aoba Castle[1]) is the name of a number of train services that formerly operated in Japan by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and most recently an all-stations service operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) until September 1997 on the high-speed Tōhoku Shinkansen in Japan.
History
Express
The name Aoba (written as "青葉") was first used from 20 November 1945 on an express (急行, kyūkō) service between in Tokyo and on the Tōhoku Main Line. This continued until the train was renamed Kitakami (きたかみ) on 1 October 1965.[2]
Limited express
The Aoba name (written as "あおば") was reintroduced from 20 March 1971 on Limited express services between and . These services were discontinued on 24 November 1975.[2]
Shinkansen
From the start of services on the newly opened Tōhoku Shinkansen on 23 June 1982, Aoba was the name used for the all-stations shinkansen services operating initially between and Sendai, later between Ueno and Sendai, and eventually between and Sendai.[2] Services initially used 200 series 12-car "E" sets with a Green (first class) car as car 7, and a buffet counter in car 9.[3] Services later used 8-car 200 series "G" sets with a Green (first class) car as car 5, and a buffet counter in car 7.[4] When the E1 Shinkansen made its debut, one set was used on Max Aoba services between Nasushiobara and Tokyo.
12-car E sets
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | 221 | 226 | 225 | 226 | 225–400 | 226 | 215 | 226 | 237 | 226 | 225 | 222 |
| Class | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Green | Standard | Buffet counter | Standard | Standard | Standard |
8-car G sets
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | 221 | 226 | 225–400 | 226 | 215 | 226 | 237 | 222 |
| Class | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard | Green | Standard | Buffet counter | Standard |
The number of Aoba services was reduced from 1 December 1995, following the introduction of the Nasuno all-stations service, and the name was finally discontinued from 1 October 1997 when the remaining trains were integrated with Yamabiko services.[4]
Former rolling stock
- 200 Series 12 car E sets (23 June 1982 - 1 October 1997)
- 200 Series 8 car G sets (23 June 1982 - 1 October 1997)
- E1 Series 12 car sets (Max Aoba) (15 July 1994 - 1 October 1997)
See also
References
- ^ Aoba literally means "green leaves"
- ^ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995.
- ^ 国鉄電車編成表１９８５年版 [JNR EMU Formations – 1985]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2010. ISBN 978-4-330-17610-9.
- ^ Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8.