 An E257-500 series on an Ayame service in June 2012 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Limited express |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Locale | Kanto region, Japan |
| First service | 10 March 1975 |
| Last service | 13 March 2015 |
| Former operator(s) | |
| Route | |
| Termini | Tokyo Kashima-Jingu or Chōshi |
| Service frequency | 2 return workings daily |
| Line(s) used | Sobu Main Line, Narita Line |
| On-board services | |
| Class(es) | Ordinary class only |
| Seating arrangements | Unidirectional 2+2 |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | E257-500 series EMUs |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (80 mph) |
The Ayame (あやめ, "iris") was a limited express train operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between Tokyo, Kashima-Jingu and Chōshi via Sawara. 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 (Shinjuku to Chōshi 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 Narutō) as far as Sakura, 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
- 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.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering | KuHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-1500 | MoHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-500 | KuHa E257-500 |
| Accommodation | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
| Facilities | Toilet | Toilet | Toilet |
See also
References
- JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File] (in Japanese). Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 64. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
- ^ JR時刻表 [JR Timetable] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. March 2014. pp. 86–87.
- 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995.
- ^ JR特急列車年鑑2013 [Limited Express Annual 2013] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 December 2012. p. 166. ISBN 978-4-86320-654-0.
- JR East press release: "２００５年１２月ダイヤ改正について" (30 September 2005). Retrieved on 3 September. (in Japanese)
- 特急「あやめ」４０年の歴史に幕 バス競合で低迷 [Limited express "Ayame" discontinued after 40 years – struggling against bus competition]. Sankei News (in Japanese). The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- JR電車編成表 2014夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2014] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 May 2014. p. 51. ISBN 978-4-330-46614-9.
External links
- "JR East E257 series Wakashio/Sazanami/Shiosai/Ayame" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2007.
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| Named trains of East Japan Railway Company | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | .svg){kind=logo} | |
| Limited express (daytime) | ||
| Rapid | ||
| Local | ||
| Excursion | ||
| Discontinued Shinkansen | ||
| Discontinued Limited express (Daytime) | ||
| Discontinued Limited express (overnight) | ||
| Discontinued Express | ||
| Discontinued Rapid | ||
| Discontinued Liner |
| |
| Discontinued Excursion | ||