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Akita Relay

Akita Relay

KiHa 110-300 series DMU on an Akita Relay service at Akita Station, January 1997
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Status	Discontinued
Locale	Tohoku region, Japan
Predecessor	Tazawa
First service	30 March 1996
Last service	21 March 1997
Successor	Komachi
Former operator(s)	JR East
Route
Termini	Tokyo Akita
Line(s) used	Kitakami Line, Ōu Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard class only
Technical
Rolling stock	KiHa 110-300 series DMU
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed	100 km/h (60 mph)[1]

The Akita Relay (秋田リレー) was a limited express train service operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan between March 1996 and March 1997.^[2]

Engineering work to convert the Tazawako Line between Morioka and Ōmagari from 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gaugeto1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge for use by Akita Shinkansen services entailed the complete closure of the line between March 1996 and March 1997. The Tazawa limited express services that previously linked Morioka with Akita and Aomori were curtailed to run between Akita and Aomori only, and temporary Akita Relay limited express diesel services were operated instead between Kitakami on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Akita via the Kitakami Line and Ōu Main Line.^[2]

Services commenced on 30 March 1996, with 10 "down" services and 11 "up" services operating daily using a specially built fleet of KiHa 110-300 series DMUs mostly in 4-car formations, but with some 3- or 7-car formations.^[1] These trains featured 2+2 abreast unidirectional limited express style seating identical to the seating used in E217 series EMU Green cars.^[3]

The Akita Relay services ended on 21 March 1997, the day before Akita Shinkansen Komachi services commenced between Morioka and Akita.^[2] The KiHa 110-300 series DMUs were subsequently refitted with standard seating, renumbered as KiHa 110-200 series, and reassigned for use on other lines such as the Iiyama Line.^[3]

(Source:^[4])

• List of named passenger trains of Japan