Sanyo Shinkansen

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ja:山陽新幹線 zh:山陽新幹線 Image:Sanyo-Shinkansen.png Sanyō Shinkansen (山陽新幹線; San'yō Shinkansen) 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 Tōkaidō 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.

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History

Construction of the Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Okayama was authorized on September 9 1965 and commenced on March 16 1967. Construction between Okayama and Hakata. commenced on February 10 1970.

The Shin-Osaka to Okayama segment opened on March 15 1972; the remainder of the line opened on March 10 1975. 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 18 1993, 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 22 1997, 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 13 1999, coinciding with the opening of Asa Station. On March 11 2000, the new 700 Series trainsets were introduced on Hikari Rail Star services.

Ogori Station was renamed Shin-Yamaguchi Station on October 1 2003.

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.

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