Welcome to Japan Railway Journal!

Today's program is about Yamagata Shinkansen's new vehicle, series E8 which started service in March.

It runs on both the conventional and Shinkansen line tracks.

This is the first new series of vehicle for the Yamagata Shinkansen in 25 years.

So, it comes with many new innovative ideas.

First, let's take a look at the features of the series E8.

On March 16th, JR East held an opening ceremony for the Yamagata Shinkansen’s new Series E8.

Here we go!

The Yamagata Shinkansen runs from Tokyo Station to Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture.

One characteristic of this particular shinkansen

is that it mainly runs on elevated shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Fukushima,

however, between Fukushima and Shinjo, it runs on conventional railway tracks.

Up until now, JR East were using the Series E3 which was introduced in 1999.

But considering the vehicles' age, they decided it was time to introduce a new vehicle.

The Series E3 is beloved by the local community.

With that in mind, we designed the Series E8 to be even more cherished by the people.

The concept of the Series E8 was inspired by the local region,

with the design incorporating patterns and colors associated with Yamagata Prefecture.

The white in the exterior color scheme represents the Zao mountain range in winter.

The yellow comes from the safflower, the prefectural flower,

while the purple shade evokes the chest feathers of the mandarin duck, the prefectural bird.

The interior design also reflects the natural and cultural features of Yamagata Prefecture.

In the regular cars, the seat-color gradually changes from safflower-yellow to crimson-red.

In the upgraded cars, the seats are a deep forest-green reminiscent of the mountains located at the heart of Yamagata Prefecture,

while the pattern on the floor is reminiscent of a flowing river.

Various new features have been added to the onboard facilities to meet the needs of passengers.

One of the first things you'll notice on entering the new vehicle are the additional wheelchair spaces.

Each train set now has space for three wheelchairs.

Also, in response to recent usage trends, each car now has dedicated storage areas to accommodate passengers with large luggage items.

The Yamagata Shinkansen is often used by people traveling home for the holidays

or to the mountains to enjoy winter sports, with large suitcases and bulky items.

The power outlets on the Series E8 can be found beneath the armrests.

This is to ensure passengers, who may need to move from their seats during the trip, aren't obstructed by cables.

In designing the series E8, particular consideration was given to the balance of speed versus seating capacity.

The Series E8 was modelled after the Series E6 used by the Akita Shinkansen,

which, like the Yamagata Shinkansen, operates on both Shinkansen and conventional railway sections.

The distinctive feature of this train is its long nose

which was designed to mitigate the loud sonic booms and vibrations that occur when entering tunnels at high speeds.

The nose of the Series E6 is 13 meters long, allowing it to achieve a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour.

However, adopting a nose comparable to the Series E6 would mean losing cabin space

thus reducing the seating capacity of the Yamagata Shinkansen.

The Yamagata Shinkansen carries a high number of passengers.

Our aim was to increase speed while maintaining the series E8's seating capacity.

We had to find the right balance between the two.

We finally decided on a 9-meter long nose, which still meets the environmental requirements.

Compared to the distance the Akita Shinkansen travels at maximum speed,

the Yamagata Shinkansen's distance travelling at maximum speed is much shorter.

So they decided to prioritize seating capacity over achieving the maximum speed of 320km/h.

Even so, the new Shinkansen's maximum speed has increased to 300 km/h,

while ensuring seating capacity for 352 passengers.

With the increased speed, the travel time between Tokyo and Yamagata has been reduced by 4 minutes,

now taking as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes at its fastest.

In addition to the improved speed, efforts were made to improve countermeasures for snow.

Yamagata Prefecture experiences heavy snowfall every winter,

which has caused schedule disruptions for the Yamagata Shinkansen in the past.

To address this, additional snow-prevention heaters were installed beneath the floor of vehicles on the trains bogies.

Snow accumulating on the trains can hinder the operation.

Also, on the section beyond Fukushima Station, the train moves south where it's warmer.

Snow melt could potentially fall from the train, injuring passengers on the platform.

So we have to be mindful of that.

With enhanced snow countermeasures and other preparations made to ensure a more precise and safe operation,

the Series E8 began commercial service.

I could take an airplane or a bus

but I think the Shinkansen is the most convenient option.

It was lovely. I don't think he's ever slept well.

He also liked the color of the seats.

It was fun.

Because travel time to and from the Greater Tokyo Area has been reduced

we hope the people will feel closer to Yamagata.

We see the Series E8 playing a key role in connecting the two.

With the debut of a new vehicle after 25 years,

Yamagata Shinkansen expects to see passenger numbers increase and more tourists attracted to the area.

I loved how they designed the exterior and the interior of series E8 inspired by the nature of Yamagata prefecture.

It's interesting to hear that JR East has, for the first time, designed a Shinkansen vehicle after one particular place.

The intention of the design is such that, once a passenger goes into a vehicle,

they will instantly feel that they are already in Yamagata prefecture.

I was also surprised to see some of the improvements in various areas,

especially the balance between maximum speed and number of seats.

In terms of securing the number of seat on the train,

what they have done is not only that but also redesigning the washroom space so that less are required,

and the similar thing has also done for the rooms for the conductors as well.

Next, let's take a look at some of the other efforts being made along the Yamagata Shinkansen line.

Yamagata Prefecture, which is located in the northern part of Japan,

approximately 300 kilometers from Tokyo, has a population of around 1 million.

With special produce, such as cherries and pears, Yamagata Prefecture is known as an area rich in nature.

It has a number of natural hot springs throughout its cities and towns.

In addition, with many ski resorts and excellent snow conditions,

Yamagata Prefecture has spent many years promoting tourism.

With the opening of the Yamagata Shinkansen in 1992,

the travel time between Tokyo and Yamagata dropped from three and a half hours to two and a half hours,

which had a significant impact on tourism and attracted businesses to the region.

That year, the annual number of tourists exceeded 40 million for the first time,

approximately 2 million more than the previous year.

The introduction of the Series E8 is expected to serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the region,

which saw visitor and tourist numbers drop due to the pandemic.

In 2022, Yamagata Prefecture launched a project in collaboration with local municipalities, businesses,

and JR East to promote the railway and revitalize the region's economy.

Public transportation and railway usage is on the rise,

leading to station-centric urban development projects

which will increase local usage, boost tourism, and revitalize the region.

Since the launch of the project,

Yamagata Prefecture has been organizing events at stations using local tourism resources to bring in crowds of people.

In March of this year, a market was held inside Yamagata Station for the first time.

The event featured 19 booths selling specialty products such as fruit and vegetables, and sweets.

On the day, the event attracted 5,500 people where they performed the traditional dance of the prefecture, "Hanagasa Odori."

In addition to its tourism efforts, Yamagata Prefecture,

is working on a project led by JR East to utilize the Shinkansen for freight transportation.

Specialty goods from Yamagata Prefecture, such as cherries, pears,

and precision machine parts are currently being transported to Tokyo.

Shipping items by Shinkansen makes sense when freshness is a priority.

So we are actively searching for such items

to transport and sell in the Greater Tokyo Area.

With the Shinkansen freight transportation initiative,

JR East is also engaging in activities to promote Yamagata Prefecture.

Employees of JR East visit farms to harvest seasonal fruits and transport them to Tokyo via the Yamagata Shinkansen to sell them at markets.

Transporting goods to the Greater Tokyo Area also serves to promote Yamagata Prefecture.

By doing so, we hope to see more people using the Shinkansen to come to Yamagata.

The introduction of new train cars was also seen as an opportunity to improve the business environment.

As such, co-working spaces have been set up at each station.

These spaces, which were designed to improve convenience for business people visiting from within and outside the prefecture,

were created in conjunction with urban development projects centered around the stations.

Mr. Takahashi, a resident of Yamagata Prefecture, runs an art direction agency.

Often traveling to Tokyo for business, he frequently uses this working space.

Since it's connected to the station building, it's easy to access, no matter what the conditions are like outside.

Other amenities include free wireless internet and private rooms, ideal for remote work.

Most of our users are business people, 40% of whom come from outside the prefecture.

With the introduction of the new vehicle, we aim to attract even more people from outside the prefecture.

There is, however, a major issue that needs to be addressed to further improve the convenience of the Yamagata Shinkansen.

The issue concerns Fukushima Station, where the Yamagata Shinkansen changes from the conventional line to the Shinkansen line.

In most cases, when running on the Shinkansen section,

the Yamagata Shinkansen is coupled with the Tohoku Shinkansen.

This arrangement helps to reduce overcrowding on the Tohoku Shinkansen section, which connects to four different lines.

At Fukushima Station, the two trains are coupled and uncoupled exclusively at platform 14,

which usually services trains bound for Sendai.

Currently, inbound trains on the Tohoku Shinkansen bound for Tokyo must cross the outbound tracks for Sendai

before they can enter platform 14 for coupling.

The coupled Yamagata and Tohoku Shinkansen then have to cross back over the outbound track for Sendai

before it can get back on the inbound track for Tokyo.

However, if there's a delay on the conventional railway section, it can also delay the timing of the level crossing.

Consequently, delays on the Yamagata Shinkansen line can affect the entire Tohoku Shinkansen network.

In light of this, JR East plans to establish a new approach line for the Yamagata Shinkansen,

with inbound trains entering platform 11 at Fukushima Station.

This initiative aims to eliminate the need for level crossings for the Tohoku Shinkansen's inbound trains,

potentially resolving significant disruptions to the schedule.

This is the approach line currently under construction.

Building a new railway line amidst the Tohoku Shinkansen line, conventional lines,

and public roads would usually present a significant challenge.

However, the introduction of new technologies in the fields of construction and civil engineering have made this challenging project possible.

We developed a detailed construction plan using 3D modeling known as BIM.

It allows us to see existing structures and to map out new structures

based on their relative locations.

We can also map out the placement of heavy machinery and how it moves as construction progresses.

The height of the tracks passing over the roads, for example, could be predetermined.

Through the use of 3D modeling, a safe and more precise passage of the railway line could be determined.

Construction of the approach line at Fukushima Station is expected to be finished and in use by March 2027.

The coworking space looked really convenient, and I liked the design too.

Well, railway stations always have the potential to become the hub of the local community.

And from that point of view it's always good to have the good collaboration between the railway operator,

in this case JR East, and the local authorities, in this case Yamagata prefecture and other city and town and village councils,

all coming together and create things like very good design railway station buildings.

That, I think, is a really good thing.

Well, I thought the construction of the approach line at Fukushima Station was also interesting.

Well, speaking of that approach line, I think, that should have taken place years ago,

hopefully from the very start of the operation of Yamagata Shinkansen.

Of course, in those days the construction was really difficult, but now, with all those technical developments,

that was made possible with much lower cost and that, also, is a really good news.

Yes.

Next is "Tourist Trains in Style" where we introduce amazing tourist trains from all across Japan.

Cafe Train is a tourist train operated by the Shimabara Railway in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Departing from Isahaya Station, it heads eastward.

As it makes its way to its final destination, Shimabara, the passengers are treated to views of the timeless Japanese countryside.

Cafe Train is adorned in red and white.

Upon entering, passengers will find tables and chairs

where they can relax and enjoy the cafe-style atmosphere as they watch the scenery pass by.

On boarding the train, attendants greet the passengers with a welcome drink.

At 11:10 am, the train departs Isahaya Station and makes its way towards Shimabara Station.

Lunch is served shortly after departure.

Changing every two months, the menu offers delicious lunches made with locally sourced ingredients.

The menu today features a stewed chicken Hamburg steak.

As the train pleasantly sways along its journey, the passengers take in the scenery and enjoy their lunch.

It's really good.

It's delicious.

On the Cafe Train, the passengers are also treated to local sweets.

First, is a sweet and fluffy "mochi" filled with red bean paste known as "Mamedaifuku."

Next is a crispy fried-noodle snack.

These sweets are another reason the Cafe Train is so popular.

An hour into the journey, the train makes a stop at "Omisaki Station."

This station, with its platform facing the sea, is said to be one of the closest stations to the sea in Japan.

Here, passengers enjoy looking out at the blue sky over the Ariake Sea.

The yellow handkerchiefs you can see here fluttering in the wind...

...are part of a revitalization project that was launched in 2016.

The yellow is the same as the color used by Shimabara Railway.

The handkerchiefs can be bought from vending machines located on the station premises.

Inside the capsule is a handkerchief and a commemorative ticket.

It has become common practice to write wishes on the handkerchiefs which are then displayed on the platform.

In fact, this activity has become the most popular attraction on the Shimabara Railway line.

Done. If my wish comes true, I'll be over the moon!

The train stops at this scenic station for 45 minutes,

allowing passengers to enjoy the time at their leisure before getting back on the Cafe Train.

Departing Omisaki Station, the last sweet is served; a delicious apple pie.

After an approximately two-hour journey, the Cafe Train arrives at its final destination, Shimabara Station.

The station by the sea was the best.

It's a beautiful view, especially when you are riding the train.

So it's a good experience with my family.

Yes, this is very nice train, and this is our first time to ride this train.

It's really good. We love it.

Shimabara Railway's cafe train operates once a day, mainly on weekends.