Azusa (train)

*Azusa*
	E353 series EMU on an Azusa service in December 2020
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Operational
Locale	Chiba Prefecture / Tokyo / Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture / Nagano Prefecture, Japan
First service	1 October 1957; 66 years ago (Semi express); 12 December 1966; 57 years ago (Limited express)
Last service	15 March 2019; 5 years ago (Super Azusa)
Current operator(s)	JR East
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Line(s) used	Chūō Main Line, Shinonoi Line, Sōbu Main Line, and Ōito Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Green + Ordinary
Catering facilities	Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock	E353 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)

The Azusa (Japanese: あずさ) is a limited express service operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which mainly run between Shinjuku and Matsumoto via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line. The name Azusa is taken from the Azusa River in Matsumoto, Nagano. On the Chūō Main Line, limited express Kaiji also runs between Tokyo / Shinjuku, and Kōfu / Ryūō.

The name Super Azusa (Japanese: スーパーあずさ) was used for services operated with tilting rolling stock, namely the E351 series, and the E353 series (prior to 16 March 2019).

Service pattern and stops

As of March 2023, 16 round trips are operated every day. All trains run on the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line, with few of them also running on the Sōbu Main Line and Ōito Line.


Section	Train number
Section	Eastbound (Up)	Westbound (Down)
Shinjuku - Matsumoto	18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 44, 54, 60	1, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 45, 49, 53, 55
Tokyo - Shinjuku - Matsumoto	4, 8, 12, 16	41
Shinjuku - Matsumoto - Minami-Otari	46	5
Chiba - Shinjuku - Matsumoto	50	3

Stops

No brackets denote stations that most or all Azusa services stop.
Round brackets () denote stations that some Azusa services stop.
Square brackets【】denote stations / sections that very few Azusa services stop.
This list is a generalised list, so please check the official timetables for stops of a particular Azusa service.

【Chiba - Funabashi - Kinshichō / Tokyo】 - Shinjuku - Tachikawa - Hachiōji - 【Ōtsuki - Enzan - Yamanashishi - Isawa-Onsen】 - Kōfu - (Nirasaki) - Kobuchizawa -【Fujimi】 - Chino - Kami-Suwa - 【Shimo-Suwa】 - Okaya - Shiojiri - Matsumoto - 【Toyoshina - Hotaka - Shinano-Ōmachi - Hakuba - Minami-Otari】

Ticketing

A limited express ticket has to be purchased to board an Azusa train, along with the basic fare ticket. There are two types of such limited express tickets, namely the Reserved Seat Ticket (座席指定券, Zaseki shitei ken), and the Unreserved Seat Ticket (座席未指定券, Zaseki mishitei ken).

The Reserved Seat Ticket enables a specified seat to be reserved for the holder. The reserved status for the seat is signified by a green overhead lamp on top of the corresponding seat.

The Unreserved Seat Ticket enables the holder to be seated on any unreserved seat. A red overhead lamp signifies that the seat is unreserved; while a yellow overhead lamp signifies that the seat is reserved for the later part of the journey, implying that one has to give up their seat to the passenger who has reserved the seat and change to another vacant seat, when they board the train later.

Extra services

Kiso Azusa

The Kiso Azusa (木曾あずさ) was an extra limited express service that was operated in 2017 and 2018, as a part of the Shinshū Destination Campaign (信州デスティネーションキャンペーン) to boost tourism to Nagano Prefecture (Shinshū is an old name for the region). The extra train operated on the Chūō Main Line between Shinjuku to Nagiso, via Tatsuno. With consideration that tourists would be staying the night around the area, the inbound train to Shinjuku was operated the day after the outbound train to Nagiso has arrived.

In 2018, the train operated 2 round trips during the campaign duration.

Stops

Shinjuku - Tachikawa - Hachiōji - Kōfu - Chino - Kami-Suwa - Okaya - Tatsuno - Shiojiri - Narai - Kiso-Fukushima - Nagiso

Rolling stock

189 series 6-car EMUs (Ordinary class, reserved seats only)

Rolling stock

E353 series EMUs (since 23 December 2017)^[2]

An E353 series train in April 2018

From 23 December 2017, new E353 series EMUs were introduced on Super Azusa services.^[2] By March 2018, all Super Azusa services were replaced by E353 series trains,^[3] and the E257 series trainsets used on Azusa services by 16 March 2019.^[4] Following the unification of all Super Azusa and Azusa services into E353 series, the name Super Azusa was abolished.

Rolling stock previously used

181 series 10-car EMUs (from 1966)
183 series EMUs (from 1972)
165 series EMUs (from 1966)
E351 series EMUs (Super Azusa, from December 1993 to March 2018)
E257 series EMUs (from December 2001 to 16 March 2019, still used on extra services)
189 series EMUs (from 1975)

A 181 series EMU on an Azusa service in 1975
A 165 series EMU
An E351 series EMU on a Super Azusa service in July 2010
An E257 series EMU on an Azusa service in January 2008

Formations

Current formation

Azusa (E353 series)

All Azusa services (E353 series) are formed of nine cars as shown below, numbered 4 to 12, with car 4 at the Shinjuku end.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Numbering	KuMoHa E353-0	MoHa E353-1000	KuMoHa E352-0	KuHa E353-0	MoHa E353-500	MoHa E352-500	MoHa E353-2000	SaHa E353-0	SaRoHa E353-0	MoHa E353-0	MoHa E352-0	KuHa E352-0
Accommodation	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Toilet		Toilet		Toilet		Toilet	Toilet		Toilet

Past formations

Azusa (E257 series)

Azusa services (E257 series) were formed of 2+9-car or 9-car sets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Chiba/Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking.^[5]

Car No.	1	2		3	4	5	6	7	8		9	10	11
Numbering	KuHa E257	KuMoHa E257		KuHa E257	MoHa E257	MoHa E256	MoHa E257	SaHa E257	SaRoHa E257		MoHa E257	MoHa E256	KuHa E256
Accommodation	Reserved	Reserved		Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved

Super Azusa (E353 series)

From March 2018 to March 2019, Super Azusa services were formed of 3+9-car E353 series trainsets as shown below, with car 1 at the southern (Tokyo/Shinjuku) end. All cars were no-smoking. There were days when car 3 operates as a reserved seating car.^[5]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Numbering	KuMoHa E353-0	MoHa E353-1000	KuMoHa E352-0	KuHa E353-0	MoHa E353-500	MoHa E352-500	MoHa E353-2000	SaHa E353-0	SaRoHa E353-0	MoHa E353-0	MoHa E352-0	KuHa E352-0
Accommodation	Reserved	Reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Non-reserved	Reserved	Green	Reserved	Reserved	Reserved
Facilities	Toilet	Toilet		Toilet		Toilet		Toilet	Toilet		Toilet

History

The Azusa service began on 1 October 1957 as a semi express operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto. This operated until 24 April 1960 when it was absorbed into Hakuba semi express services.^[6]

The Azusa name was revived from 12 December 1966 for use on limited express services operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto.^[6]

The premier Super Azusa service commenced on 3 December 1994 with the delivery of the first new E351 series tilting EMUs.^[6]

New E257 series EMUs were introduced on Azusa services from the start of the revised timetable on 1 December 2001.^[1]

Smoking was prohibited in all cars from 18 March 2007.

From 16 March 2019 onwards, with the replacement of E257 series trains to E353 series trains on all Azusa services, the name Super Azusa were discontinued and were integrated with Azusa services.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. 2008. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
^ ^a ^b Ueshin, Daisuke (26 October 2017). JR東日本E353系、新型車両の特急「スーパーあずさ」12/23デビュー [New JR East E353 series to debut on "Super Azusa" limited express from 23 December]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
^ 来年３月に現行車両「Ｅ３５１系」引退スーパーあずさ、新型に [E351 series to be retired by next spring with new trains for "Super Azusa" services]. Sankei Photo (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
^ 2019年3月ダイヤ改正について（多摩版） [Regarding the timetable revision in March 2019 (Tama Edition)] (PDF). East Japan Railway Company, Hachioji Branch. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. February 2015. p. 957.
^ ^a ^b ^c 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995.
^ 2019年3月ダイヤ改正について（多摩版） [Regarding the timetable revision of March 2019 (Tama Edition)] (PDF). East Japan Railway. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.