FEaTURE 2: a nEW SHInKanSEn nETWORK JOInIng TOgETHER TOKYO anD SHIn-aOMORI Introducing the Hayabusa Series E5 Shinkansen train service to the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Top speed of 300 km/h. Tokyo to Shin-aomori in as little as 3 hours and 10 minutes. “granClass” provides travel in supreme comfort. Hayabusa Series E5 320 km/h max. speed* * For commercial operations, commenced at speed of 300 km/h in March 2011, to be raised to 320 km/h at the end of fiscal year 2013. GROUP STRATEGY Chronology of the Shortest Travel Time JR East’s Between Tokyo and Aomori Shinkansen Network JR EAST Until Dec 2010 3 hours Shin-Aomori 59 minutes Hachinohe Dec 2010 Tohoku Shinkansen’s Shin-Aomori leg opens 3 hours Akita 20 minutes Morioka Mar 2011 Upon launch of Hayabusa traveling at a peak 3 hours operating speed of 300 km/h 10 minutes Shinjo End of FY 2013 54 3 hours Once peak operating speed of Hayabusa is minutes raised to 320 km/h 5 minutes shorter Yamagata Sendai AIR TRAVEL Niigata Fukushima Total time including local transportation 2 hours 58 minutes Nagano Takasaki Omiya Tokyo 024 Annual Report 2011 1 Cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle2 A Nebuta float 3 Komaki Onsen 4 Maguro don (tuna rice bowl) made from Oma Maguro AOMORI MAP Aomori— is illuminated from inside. Home to Many Popular Looking at a Nebuta from close Sightseeing Destinations by is an unforgettable experi- 4 Located more than 700 km ence. Aomori is also famous from Tokyo on the northern tip for its many types of onsen of Honshu, Aomori prefecture (hot springs). Tourists can visit offers visitors opportunities to secluded onsen deep in the enjoy nature as well as well- mountains, relax in an onsen G R known cultural sites. Hirosaki with apples, a famous Aomori OU P Castle is famous for its cherry product, and enjoy other onsen S T blossoms. Lake Towada and experiences. Local cuisine is R AT Oirase Stream have spectacu- another way to enjoy the unique EG Y lar scenery. The Shirakami- history and culture of Aomori. Sanchi (mountains) is desig- Sushi featuring Oma Maguro 2 nated as a UNESCO World (branded cold-water tuna, Heritage Site. Natural beauty caught off the northern tip of 3 that is virtually unchanged Aomori) and other fresh fish is from many years ago can be just one of the numerous ways 1 found throughout the prefec- in which visitors can enjoy the ture. In the city of Aomori, the distinctive tastes of Aomori. exciting Nebuta Festival that During the three-month takes place from August 2 to period that started on April 23, 7 each year attracts more 2011, the six JR companies HAYABUSA LAUNCHED ON With the Shinkansen service than 3 million tourists. A conducted the Aomori THE New SHinKansen to Shin-Aomori operating, JR Nebuta is an enormous wood Destination Campaign in SERVICE TO SHIN-AOMORI East will partner even more and paper float, each one conjunction with tourism asso- Station with local communities in the meticulously handcrafted with ciations and municipalities in Tohoku region on programs to pictures of warriors and other Aomori Prefecture. Completion of increase demand for Shink- historical people that Tohoku Shinkansen Line ansen tickets, with the goal of to Shin-aomori invigorating the economies of Trains started running on the Aomori Prefecture and the Hachinohe to Shin-Aomori seg- Tohoku region. JR East aims to ment of the Tohoku Shinkansen account for 80% of travel to Line on December 4, 2010. By Aomori compared with the completing the Tohoku current 70% share against Shinkansen Line with this 30% for air travel to this region. segment, JR East now has a high-speed network that links all *Note: Information is as of the commence- ment of service to Shin-Aomori, on six prefectural capitals in the December 4, 2010. Tohoku region with Metropolitan Tokyo. The shortest travel time on the direct service between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori was reduced to 3 hours and 20 The first train leaves Shin-Aomori Station for Tokyo minutes, from the previous 3 hours and 59 minutes.* Annual Report 2011 025 HAYABUSA INTERIOR Ordinary car on the Hayabusa green Car granClass The Debut of the Tohoku Tokyo and Shin-Aomori is only pantographs, wheel covers, a ordinary seats come with Shinkansen Hayabusa three hours and 10 minutes.* long, aerodynamic nose and adjustable headrests. With series E5 Hayabusa is filled with other innovations. For comfort, other features, Hayabusa Hayabusa trains started run- advanced technologies that Hayabusa is Japan’s first cars offer travelers a relaxing ning between Tokyo and Shin- produce dramatic improve- Shinkansen train with full-active and comfortable environment. Aomori on the Tohoku ments in environmental perfor- suspension (roll prevention and JR East plans to raise Shinkansen Line on March 5, mance, operational speed control system) to give pas- Hayabusa’s maximum opera- 2011. These new series E5 performance, reliability, pas- sengers an even more pleas- tional speed to 320 km/h by G R OU high-speed Shinkansen trains senger comfort and other ant ride. the end of the fiscal year P are the fastest in Japan with a characteristics. To enhance For additional comfort, ending March 31, 2013. S T R maximum operational speed of environmental performance seat pitches are wider and AT *Note: Information is as of the start of the EG 300 km/h. Travel time between and reduce noise pollution, seats in green Cars have Y Hayabusa service on March 5, trains feature low-noise motor-adjusted footrests and 2011. Overview of new Technologies BETTER ENVironmental PERFORMANCE LOng-nOSE In FROnT— on Hayabusa to reduce tunnel boom The 15-meter nose of Hayabusa gives the train a sleek profile. The aerodynamic nose reduces tunnel boom, or the shockwave and noise at the exit-end when a train enters a tunnel at high speed. Long-nose BETTER ENVironmental PERFORMANCE FULL BOgIE COVERS— New technologies cut noise to the absolute minimum Completely covering wheels holds down mechanical noise and reduces aerodynamic noise by making the sides of cars smoother. Equipment underneath car floors is insulated with sound-absorbing materials as much as possible to lower the Full bogie cover noise level. 026 Annual Report 2011 The Debut of granClass treat passengers to a trip that Innovative back-shell-type JR East introduced a first class is like no other. seats never before used on service called granClass with The lush interior designs trains give passengers unprec- the launch of the Hayabusa. incorporate leather, wool and edented comfort. Reclining The first Shinkansen service of other high-grade materials. angles are large and seat pitch this type, granClass is based Lighting is equally sophisti- is wider. To provide even more on the concept of offering cated. granClass gives pas- space and comfort, there are passengers a unique and sengers highly personalized only three seats in each row. G R memorable traveling experi- and comfortable illumination An attendant assigned exclu- OU P ence. Interiors of granClass that use LED fixtures to provide sively to the granClass car S T cars are designed for elegance multiple sources of light, both handles requests for food, R AT and sophistication in order to indirect and in close proximity. beverages and other services. EG The luxurious granClass seat Y BETTER ENVironmental PERFORMANCE BETTER CRUISING PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVED PANTOGRAPHs— RELIABILITY Low-noise pantograph BRAKE SYSTEMs— Hayabusa uses a low-noise pantograph and for stopping trains traveling other quiet components to reduce the noise at 320 km/h level alongside the Shinkansen tracks. The brake system has many improvements, Sound blocking panels are placed on both including greater wheel-to-rail adhesion. sides of the pantographs to further lower These advances give Hayabusa a stopping noise. distance at 320 km/h that is the same as Low-noise pantograph the distance required by a conventional Shinkansen train at 275 km/h. Brake system IMPROVED passenger comfort IMPROVED passenger comfort aLL CaRS HaVE FULL-aCTIVE SUSPEnSIOn— CaR BODY Tilting SYSTEM— More comfort at high Comfort when traversing speeds curves at high speed All cars are equipped with full-active sus- To improve comfort and increase speed at pension that detects rolling and limits curves, Hayabusa uses air springs that tilt side-to-side swing. Passengers can enjoy a train cars as needed for reducing centrifu- comfortable ride even at high speeds. gal force. This technology allows negotiating curves with a radius of 4,000 meters at a speed of 320 km/h. Full-active suspension Car body tilting system Annual Report 2011 027 RESORT SHIRAKAMI RESORT ASUNARO The aoike version train used for Resort Resort Asunaro Shirakami SERVICE MaP OF RESORT aSUnaRO AND RESORT SHIRAKAMI THE NEW RESORT TRAIN O¯ minato JR East started operating Resort Asunaro (series Kanita HB-E300), which uses an Aoimori Railway Ominato Line environmentally friendly hybrid Tsugaru Line Noheji The viewing deck of Resort Asunaro system, at the same time that Aomori Tohoku Shinkansen the Tohoku Shinkansen ser- Shin-Aomori GROUP STRATEGY vice to Shin-Aomori began. The new train runs on the Gon¯o Line Ominato Line and Tsugaru Line in Aomori Prefecture. Cars have monitors to show passengers the view from the front of the train and present NEW SHOPPING FACILI- allowing travelers to sample sightseeing information. A TIES PROVIDING LOCAL and shop for foodstuffs and viewing deck is placed behind FOODS AND SPECIALTIES souvenirs of Aomori and the where the driver sits. Large prefecture’s Tsugaru region. side windows give passengers JR East opened the Aomori Along with activities at panoramic views of scenery Shunmi-kan at the Shin- Shin-Aomori Station, JR East and there are also seats and Aomori Station Building as opened a multi-purpose sofas specifically for people part of renovations at the commercial facility called who want to enjoy the scenery station to prepare for the a-FaCTORY near Aomori in comfort.