Tsubame (Shinkansen)

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Tsubame is the initial service running on the Kyushu Shinkansen since the line opened in March 2004. It employs the new 800 Series Shinkansen trains.

The word tsubame (燕) in Japanese means "swallow".

Prior to the opening of the Tsubame Shinkansen line, the name Tsubame was used for JR Kyushu's limited express trains running on the Kagoshima main line, from Nishi Kagoshima Station (since renamed Kagoshima-Chuo Station) to Hakata Station in Fukuoka. These trains are still in use between Shin-Yatsuhiro station and Hakata (as "Relay Tsubame"). The Relay Tsubame will be retired when the Kyushu Shinkansen is completed in 2010.

The Tsubame name was also used for the main Tokaido line express before electrification. These trains were pulled by C62 class 4-6-4 steam locomotives.

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