Nasuno

Nasuno
E2 series on a Nasuno service, February 2011
Service type	Shinkansen
Operator	JR East
Line used	Tōhoku Shinkansen
Maximum speed	240 km/h (150 mph)
Started	1959 (Semi-express) 1995 (Shinkansen)
Rolling stock	200 series, E2 series, E3 series, E4 series

The Nasuno (なすの^?) is a train service operated on the Tōhoku Shinkansen by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan.^[1] It serves all stations between Tokyo and Kōriyama, a medium-sized city approximately 225 km north of Tokyo.^[2]

History

165 series Nasuno service, 1984

The name Nasuno was first introduced on 22 September 1959 for semi-express (準急, junkyū^?) services operating between Ueno in Tokyo and Kuroiso on the Tōhoku Main Line. In 1966, this was upgraded to become an express (急行, kyūkō^?), and on 14 March 1985, it was upgraded to become a Limited express using 185 series EMU rolling stock. From 10 March 1990, the train was rerouted to operate between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Kuroiso.^[3]

On 10 December 1995, the name was adopted for the new all-stations services on the Tōhoku Shinkansen.^[1] The Tōhoku Main Line services to/from Shinjuku were renamed Ohayō Tochigi and Hometown Tochigi from this date. Prior to 1995, Aoba services formed the all-stations services along the whole line. However, with the introduction of short-distance Nasuno services, Aoba services were reduced, and in 1997, discontinued altogether, with the local services covered by Nasuno as far as Kōriyama, and all further stations served by the Yamabiko.

Origin

The name Nasuno is derived from the Nasu Highlands (那須高原^?) and Nasu Onsen (那須温泉^?) areas located alongside the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Utsunomiya and Kōriyama.

Operations

There are approximately 16 return Nasuno services daily, starting/terminating either at Oyama, Nasushiobara, or Kōriyama. Double-decker Nasuno services formed of E4 series sets also operate, named Max Nasuno. Nasuno services stop at all stations en route.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6. 
2. ^ JR Timetable, December 2008
3. ^ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. 

External links

• 200 series Yamabiko/Toki/Nasuno/Tanigawa (Japanese)
• E2 series Hayate/Yamabiko/Nasuno (Japanese)
• E4 series Max Yamabiko/Max Nasuno (Japanese)