Sanyo Shinkansen
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is one of the lines of Shinkansen high speed rail network, connecting Shin-Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka. It is operated by the West Japan Railway Company and is the western continuation of the Tokaido Shinkansen line.Hakata is currently the western terminus of the Shinkansen network, but the Kyushu Shinkansen, now partly operational, is scheduled to start services from Hakata to Kagoshima in 2013.
History
Construction of the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama was authorized on September 91965 and commenced on March 161967. Construction between Okayama and Hakata. commenced on February 101970.
The Shin-Osaka to Okayama segment opened on March 151972; the remainder of the line opened on March 101975. The first Hikari trains, using 0 Series Shinkansen equipment, made the Osaka-Hakata run in 3 hr. 44 min. This was shortened to 2 hr. 59 min. in 1986 with an increase in maximum speed to 220 km/h. 100 Series Shinkansen trains, introduced in 1989, boosted maximum speed to 230 km/h and reduced travel time to 2 hr. 49 min.
Tokyo-Hakata Nozomi services began on March 181993, using 300 Series Shinkansen equipment. The Osaka-Hakata run was reduced to 2 hr. 32 min., at a maximum speed of 270 km/h. On March 221997, the 500 Series Shinkansen entered service on Nozomi services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, reducing the Osaka-Hakata run to 2 hr. 17 min. at a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
The 700 Series Shinkansen was introduced on Tokyo-Hakata Nozomi services on March 131999, coinciding with the opening of Asa Station. On March 112000, the new 700 Series trainsets were introduced on Hikari Rail Star services.
Ogori Station was renamed Shin-Yamaguchi Station on October 12003.
Today, the Sanyo Shinkansen accounts for approximately 40% of JR West's transportation revenues—the same proportion as the entire Osaka-Kyoto-Kobe "Urban Network" of commuter train lines. However, the line faces heavy competition from airlines, especially on the Tokyo-Fukuoka and Osaka-Fukuoka routes. As a result, JR West has decreased fares on the route several times over the past decade, and taken other measures to compete with the airlines, such as offering shorter trains (the 8-car Hikari Rail Star) at higher frequencies.
Trains
Train sets on the line include:
- 0 Series Kodama
- 100 Series Kodama
- 300 Series Hikari
- 500 Series Nozomi
- 700 Series Nozomi/Hikari Rail Star/Kodama
Stations
All stations on the Sanyo Shinkansen are owned and operated by JR West, with the exception of Shin-Osaka which is run by JR Tokai.
| Station | in Japanese | Ward/City | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shin-Osaka | 新大阪 | Yodogawa-ku, Osaka | Tokaido Shinkansen (through service), JR Kyoto Line, Midosuji Line, Osaka Outer Loop Line (2012) |
| Shin-Kobe | 新神戸 | Chuo-ku, Kobe | Hokushin Line, Yamate Line (see also Kobe Municipal Subway) |
| Nishi-Akashi | 西明石 | Akashi, Hyogo | Sanyo Main Line |
| Himeji | 姫路 | Himeji, Hyogo | Sanyo Main Line, Bantan Line, Kishin Line, Sanyo Railway |
| Aioi | 相生 | Aioi, Hyogo | Sanyo Main Line, Ako Line |
| Okayama | 岡山 | Okayama, Okayama | Sanyo Main Line, Uno Line, Tsuyama Line, Kibi Line, Okayama Railway Higashiyama Main Line |
| Shin-Kurashiki | 新倉敷 | Kurashiki, Okayama | Sanyo Main Line |
| Fukuyama | 福山 | Fukuyama, Hiroshima | Sanyo Main Line, Fukuen Line |
| Shin-Onomichi | 新尾道 | Onomichi, Hiroshima | (none) |
| Mihara | 三原 | Mihara, Hiroshima | Sanyo Main Line, Kure Line |
| Higashi-Hiroshima | 東広島 | Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima | (none) |
| Hiroshima | 広島 | Minami-ku, Hiroshima | Sanyo Main Line, Geibi Line, Kabe Line, Hiroshima Railway Main Line |
| Shin-Iwakuni | 新岩国 | Iwakuni, Yamaguchi | Nishikigawa Seiryu Line (Misho Station) |
| Tokuyama | 徳山 | Shunan, Yamaguchi | Sanyo Main Line, Gantoku Line |
| Shin-Yamaguchi | 新山口 | Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi | Sanyo Main Line, Yamaguchi Line, Ube Line |
| Asa | 厚狭 | Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi | Sanyo Main Line, Mine Line |
| Shin-Shimonoseki | 新下関 | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | Sanyo Main Line |
| Kokura | 小倉 | Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu | Kagoshima Main Line, Nippo Main Line, Hita-Hikosan Line, Kitakyushu Monorail |
| Hakata | 博多 | Hakata-ku, Fukuoka | Hakata-Minami Line, Kagoshima Main Line, Sasaguri Line, Fukuoka Subway Airport Line |
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