Bright Launch of the First Series 800 Shinkansen (Bullet Train) for JR Kyushu

17 September 2003

In spring of the next year, Kyushu Railway (JR Kyushu) will start its operation of the section from Shin-Yatsushiro to Kagoshima-Chuo, precompletion of the whole line scheduled in 2012 between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. The travel time between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo will be reduced from about 4hours to 2hours and 10 minutes. In addition one hour and 20 minute travel time will be available in 2012. Series 800 Shinkansen is nicknamed "Tsubame" which primarily means swallow in Japanese. "Tsubame" has been familiar for many years as one of Japan's major limited expresses.
Series 800 is streamlined full of sense of speed, resulting from cutting-edge technology based on 40-year experience of Shinkansen operation. A Tsubame trainset is composed of six cars and can accommodate about 400 passengers. The maximum speed is 260km/h. Remarkable feature of the interior is to use Japanese traditional material like Nishijin-Ori - luxurious fabric from Kyoto, bamboo works etc. for chairs, wall and so on.
The first trainset was landed at Sendai Port from Hitachi Kasado Works on August 13th and will be undertaken commissioning until the next spring opening.