Recently I've been making my final few proposals with the aim of offering a diverse selection of Japanese routes, services and operators - from urban to suburban locations, JR and non-JR companies, etc. With this suggestion, I am adding a high-speed route to complete the range. I used to be hesitant about proposing a shinkansen route, as high-speed is usually not as multifaceted - you get very few bends, only a few stops, and the distances mean they are not as detailed. However, like the Akita Shinkansen suggestion we already have, the Yamagata is a mini-shinkansen route, which means a good number of curves and stops on the line, plus these trains share the tracks with conventional rolling stock. In addition, the track gauge is a standard one instead of the typical Japanese narrow type. Finally, this route having more diverse (urban+natural) surroundings compared to the LGV high-speed route we have in TSW2 at the moment could also mean that the lack of detail due to the longer distance would be less perceptible. With that in mind, Yamagata Shinkansen semi-high-speed route The logo of JR East, the operator of the route (image via JR Group, Monaneko/public domain) An E3 series EMU of Yamagata Shinkansen (photo by yuki_alm_misa/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Contents: The route General description History Services, technical details Notable locationsRoute maps and media The rolling stock Former rolling stockSources The route General description The JR East-operated Yamagata Shinkansen is one of two "mini-shinkansen" routes in Japan, which were created by modifying 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge tracks into 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1/2 in) standard ones on select routes, setting a lower speed limit for bullet trains, and enabling the high-speed rolling stock to share the tracks with conventional trains. Yamagata was the first route to be converted in such a manner, followed by Akita Shinkansen after the concept proved to be a success. This 148.6 km (92.3 mi)-long route connects Fukushima - located 272 km (169 mi) north of Tokyo - with Shinjō to its north. Between Tokyo and Fukushima, Yamagata trains run coupled with Yamabiko trains of the Tōhoku Shinkansen. At Fukushima Station, they then decouple and enter a left-hand diversion after exiting the station, and head to Shinjō. On return trips, they again couple with Yamabiko service trains at Fukushima and proceed to the capital. The route offers a diverse surrounding of urban areas, scenes of sakura bloom, snow-capped mountains (while they are still a thing in the reality of global heating), green environments, short tunnels and more. The trains pass pretty close to residential and office buildings along the route. Their liveries also bear symbols of fruits - a homage to the status of Yamagata Prefecture as a major source of Japan's fruit harvests. History The first service of the route opened in 1992 to connect Fukushima with Yamagata, located 87 km (54 mi) away. The rest of the route to Shinjō was added later, with services commencing in late 1999. In March 2011 all services were suspended due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and partially restored later in the month. In February 2021, services north of Nasushiobara Station were suspended due to the Fukushima earthquake, and resumed later. Level crossings of the route - first built when the section did not have high-speed operation - were found needing upgrades for safe shinkansen operation, with large gate-like structures installed to ensure safety. In the first two decades of its operation, the route transported over 60 million passengers. Services, technical details The services operated on the route are known as Tsubasa. They use the Tōhoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Fukushima, and the Ōu Main Line between Fukushima and Shinjō. The latter section features 11 stations and is covered in about one hour and 45 minutes. The route uses 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1/2 in) standard track gauge, 20 kV AC 50 Hz overhead electrification and a speed limit of 130 km/h (80 mph) (the Tokyo-Fukushima section is travelled by coupled trains at 275 km/h (170 mph)). A significant portion of the route is single-tracked, with some high-speed services having to wait for conventional trains at these sections. The first Tsubasa service departs Shinjō at 5:40am, with the direction towards Fukushima considered an "up" service. Most trains feature both Ordinary Car (standard) and Green Car (first class) seating. The former cars have a 3×2 layout, with the latter having a 2×2 seating. Each consist includes vending machines, food carts and washroom facilities. Originally the trains offered both reserved and non-reserved seats, but since 2020 all Tsubasa trains became reserved-only, to address concerns of passengers who struggled to queue for non-reserved seating during busy holiday periods. Services on the route have been known to be affected by snow in winter season. Heavy snowfall conditions on the route can be seen in videos like this one. Notable locations Notable locations along the route include: Reachable from Yonezawa Station: a shrine honouring feudal lord Uesugi Kenshin and built on the grounds of Yonezawa Castle, which was destroyed in 1873 Reachable from Akayu Station: Akayu Hot Springs, discovered about 900 years ago and featuring sulfur and sodium chloride properties Reachable from Kaminoyama-Onsen Station: 1535-built and 1982-reconstructed Kaminoyama Castle, which served as the headquarters for the Kaminoyama Domain Reachable from Yamagata Station: Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum, established in 1989 outside the reconstructed gate of the 1357-built Yamagata Castle Reachable from Tendō Station: Hiroshige Art Museum and Tendō Shogi Museum Reachable from Ōishida Station: Ginzan Onsen hot springs Route maps and media A side view video of a journey between Tokyo and Shinjō in October 2021. The section between Fukushima and Shinjō starts at 1:28:17 An overview of the Yamagata Shinkansen operation from Fukushima Station, showing the coupling/uncoupling with Yamabiko service of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, overlooking views of the divergence of Yamagata Shinkansen from the station, and other details From left: a scheme of stations of the entire route between Tokyo and Shinjō, including the Fukushima-Shinjō section (via jrailpass.com); the Fukushima-Shinjō section in a local context and a wider geographical context (via rome2rio.com) From left: a photograph showing the point of divergence of the Fukushima-Shinjō section from Fukushima Station (photo by Purplepumpkins/CC BY-SA 3.0); a Tsubasa service crossing Sabaneyama in autumn colours (photo by Kaoru Nagasawa/CC BY 2.0); a Yamagata Shinkansen set on the route in May 2022 (photo by hele_moa) From left: Yamagata Shinkansen passing Kajo Park, which is located in the ruins of Yamagata Castle (photo by annintofu/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0); a shinkansen of the route passing close to residential houses (photo by noboribow_0716); a Tsubasa service coupled with the Yamabiko between Tokyo and Fukushima (photo by weichen_kh/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) From left: interior of a Tsubasa train (photo by jpellgen/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0); a symbol representing the nature and agricultural significance of the Yamagata Prefecture on a shinkansen EMU (photo by yukipon.0228); a destination display on a train of the Yamagata Shinkansen route (photo by matkiho) The rolling stock The current rolling stock of the line comprises the E3-1000 and E3-2000 series trains, which are nearly identical. Future plans include replacing the current rolling stock with the E8 series shinkansen trains starting in 2024, with the upcoming EMUs featuring elongated and altered noses for increased top speed/reduced tunnel boom. Current plans aim to complete replacement of the 17 current trains on the route with the new model by early 2026. E3-1000 and E3-2000 series Scenes of E3 series shinkansen trains Sights of Tsubasa services running in winter 2018, with various close shots and panoramic views of locations along the route A look at the interior of an E3-2000 series train is available here An E3-2000 in the original silver-and-green livery (photo by DAJF/CC BY-SA 4.0) E3-1000s were manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Tokyu Car Corporation in three sets for the Tsubasa services between 1999-2005. The seven-car sets include five powered and two non-powered cars, and two single-arm pantographs. Produced in aluminium bodies, the original E3s of the line featured a silver-and-green livery. The trains use the Yamagata depot for operation. They are equipped with GTO or IGBT-VVVF traction systems, have a power output of 4.8 MW (6,440 hp) for six-car sets and 6 MW (8,050 hp) for seven-car sets, and acceleration of 1.6 km/h/s up to the top speed of 130 km/h (80 mph) on the Ōu Main Line and 275 km/h (170 mph) on the Tōhoku Shinkansen line. They also feature ATC-2, DS-ATC and ATS-P safety systems. E3-2000 EMUs were added to the route in late 2008, with changes including active suspension, full-colour LED destination indicators and AC power outlets in all cars. The subvariant was also rolled out in a livery featuring the deep purple, white and yellow colours, in homage to Yamagata Prefecture’s iconic bird, Mount Zao and safflowers. There are around 12 E3-2000 series and a few E3-1000 series sets on the service. For the 30th anniversary of the route in 2022, a special livery was created with symbols representing the region, multiplied and placed along the bodies of the cars on trains serving the route. The livery can be seen in this video. Former rolling stock Former rolling stock of the route comprised sets of E3-700 and 400 series shinkansen trains. E3-700 series Sights of an E3-700 Toreiyu Tsubasa train Seating in an E3-700 Toreiyu trainset (photo by DAJF/CC BY-SA 4.0); Japanese tatami seating in an E3-700 series (photo by DAJF/CC BY-SA 4.0) A single E3-700 six-car set was rebuilt from a former Akita Shinkansen set for use as as an excursion service to promote tourism to Yamagata Prefecture, and given the title Toreiyu Tsubasa. Reflecting the prefecture's hot springs, the train offered footbath services onboard. Operated between Fukushima and Shinjō since 2014, it had a seating capacity of 143 passengers, with some of the cars featuring ordinary seats and two kitted out with Japanese-style tatami seating. It was used on special weekend services on the route, with operations concluded in March 2022. The E3-700s bore liveries featuring “Gassan Green” and “Zao White” colours reflecting Mount Gassan and Mount Zao, two prominent mountains of Yamagata. 400 series A 400 series shinkansen (photo by オギハニー); Green Car seating in a 400 series (photo by DAJF/CC BY-SA 3.0); Standard Car seating in a 400 series (photo by DAJF/CC BY-SA 3.0) The 400 series were produced by Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Tokyu Car Corporation between 1992–1995. They operated on the services between 1992-2010, refurbished between 1999–2001, and scrapped between 2008–2010, when they were replaced by the E3-2000 series. There were 12 sets used, with seven cars per set. Constructed in steel bodies, they had a power output of 5.04 MW (6,760 hp), acceleration rate of 1.6 km/h/s, and a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) on the Ōu Main Line and 240 km/h (150 mph) on the Tōhoku Shinkansen line. Sourceshttps://www.wikiwand.com/en/Yamagata_shinkansen https://www.wikiwand.com/ja/山形新幹線 https://japanrailtimes.japanrailcafe.com.sg/web/article/news/jre-spring-2022-news https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13195517 https://japanrailtimes.japanrailcafe.com.sg/web/article/news/farewell-toreiyu https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Yonezawa_Station https://en.japantravel.com/yamagata/uesugi-shrine/59834 https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Akayu_Station http://en.yamagata-info.com/onsen/akayu/ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Kaminoyama-Onsen_Station https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Kaminoyama_Castle https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Yamagata_Station https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Mogami_Yoshiaki_Historical_Museum https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Yamagata_Castle https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Tendō_Station https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Sakurambo-Higashine_Station https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ōishida_Station https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Ginzan_Onsen https://www.wikiwand.com/en/E3_Series_Shinkansen https://www.wikiwand.com/en/400_Series_Shinkansen https://www.wikiwand.com/ja/新幹線E3系電車#
Some other videos I have discovered that cannot be embedded in the OP: A Yamagata train with a livery created for the 30th anniversary of the route this year: https://twitter.com/EASTTECMODEL/status/1534817552236306432 A scene with heavy snowfall at a station of the route: https://twitter.com/Naaot/status/1088311353519927299 Another look at a station of the route in the winter season, with what seems to be reversed playback: https://twitter.com/fukushimatweet/status/1338627051104813057 A Yamataga train passing next to a children's playground: https://twitter.com/tmyk1980/status/1381388936321232897 The vibrancy of colours on the route (also a good indication of the number of curves along the route that are uncharacteristic for shinkansen ones): https://twitter.com/kochan10123/status/1534784590791196672 A scenic view with some greenhouses and flat landscape in the immediate background, and hilly landscape further back: https://twitter.com/GreeenSilver/status/1524007706234740737 A Yamagata train passing on the backdrop of misty hills: https://twitter.com/9jX4yk9cyGXIYyB/status/1439761263366586368 And a bonus video of a Shiba Inu looking confused by a shinkansen of the route: https://twitter.com/tobishima_ugo/status/1502842032246915075
Yeah I mentioned it - if rolling stock taken off active service is easier to get a hold of for scanning/etc, maybe once the E8 enters service, it makes the ones decommissioned easier to create for devs. The E8 itself will be interesting to see - it looks similar to the E5/E6 but with a higher nose profile.
Excellent idea and furthermore more this can be bundled with Tohoku Shinkansen as Tokyo High-Speed Tokyo to Sendai and Yamagata. Does the E8 Shinkansen use Active suspension Tilting system as H5 E5 & E6 if so then they play differently than a DB BR612 tilt system.
That would be too long - probably 3-4 times this suggestion. Plus you'd need to model a lot more trains (E2 at least - E5 if set post 2012)
