Tsubame (train)

Pre-war locomotive hauling the Tsubame service near Nishiakashi, circa 1934. The Tsubame name (originally written as "燕") was first used from 1 October 1930 for limited express services operating between and , hauled by JNR Class C51 and JNR Class C53 steam locomotives. These services operated until 30 September 1943. These services operated until 12 March 2004, the day before the new Kyushu Shinkansen opened. Relay Tsubame With the start of services on the Kyushu Shinkansen between and from 13 March 2004, new Relay Tsubame services commenced on the Kagoshima Main Line between and using 787 series EMUs in 7-, 8-, and 11-car formations. One morning train, Tsubame 302, operates to from , while a separate southbound morning service, Tsubame 321, operates from to . Both trains operate using the N700 series Shinkansen. ==Rolling stock==

Shinkansen train services are formed of eight-car N700 series (JR West N700-7000 series and JR Kyushu N700-8000 series) trains or six-car JR Kyushu 800 series trains. File:Series800 U001.jpg|A JR Kyushu 800 series train set in January 2022 File:Shinkansen N700-7000 S1 (49766090102).jpg|A JR West N700-7000 series trainset File:Shinkansen N700-8000 R6 at Nishi-Askashi Station 2019-11-15 (49765248278).jpg|A JR Kyushu N700-8000 series trainset ==Formations==

N700 series Eight-car N700 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. Cars 1 to 3 are ordinary-class cars with 2+3 seating, and cars 4 to 8 are ordinary-class cars with 2+2 seating. Half of car 6 has "Green car" (first class) 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking since the smoking ban in March 2024. On some train services, cars 4 and 5 are also non-reserved. File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Green-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series Green car interior File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Reserved-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series standard-class reserved car interior File:Series-N700-7000 Inside Ordinary-seat.jpg|N700-7000 series standard-class non-reserved car interior 800 series Six-car 800 series services are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Kagoshima-Chūō (southern) end. All accommodation is ordinary class with 2+2 seating. All cars are non-smoking. On some train services, car 4 is also non-reserved. File:Shinkansen 800 Series Interior-3.jpg|Interior of an 800 series car ==References==