Hayate is a high-speed Shinkansen service operated in Japan, on the Tohoku Shinkansen by East Japan Railway Company since 2002 and on the Hokkaido Shinkansen by JR Hokkaido since 26 March 2016. It operates as far as the northern terminus of, and it is the second-fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen, operating at a top speed of between Utsunomiya and Morioka. These services were inaugurated with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe on 1 December 2002. The name "Hayate" has not been used previously on any train service in Japan. The name was chosen with input from the public; roughly translated, it means a strong or violent wind; however, it carries positive connotations of speed and power.
History
Introduction
In December 2002, the Tohoku Shinkansen extended to Hachinohe. As a result, the Hayate was introduced, in order to serve the newly extended section between Morioka and Hachinohe. Hayate trains ran between Tokyo and Hachinohe, and skips all stations between Ōmiya and Sendai. The Hayate was established as the fastest service on the Tohoku Shinkansen at that time, which also established its position as the predecessor of the Hayabusa. All seats in Hayate trains require reservation, due to the popularity of Shinkansen services from Tokyo to the Tohoku region. Hayate trains were operated by 10-car E2 series units, which ran at a top speed of 275 km/h.
Shin-Aomori Extension
On 4 December 2010, the Tohoku Shinkansen extended again to. And in 19 November 2011, E5 seriestrainsets, with maximum speeds of 320 km/h, were introduced to the line, with some of them used on Hayate services. The introduction of the E5 series resulted in the introduction of the Hayabusa, which replaced the Hayate's role as the fastest trainon the line. In addition, currently E5 series Hayate services still run at a top speed of 275 km/h. JR East have reduced Hayate services over the years, and unify the discontinued Hayate services to Hayabusa services. It now serves as a complementary service to the Hayabusa.
Opening of Hokkaido Shinkansen
From 26 March 2016, with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, the Hayate name is also used for services operating between,, and., one return service operates daily between Morioka and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, and one return service daily operates between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. These services are formed of 10-car E5 or H5 series trainsets.
Future plans
Past services with ''Komachi''
In the pastHayate services used to couple with Komachi services from Tokyo to Morioka, where the Komachi cars are uncoupled and proceed to Akita Station via the Akita Shinkansen. However currently all Komachi train now couple with Hayabusa trains, so all Hayate trains now run alone.
Hayate services are operated by 10-car JR East E5 series or JR Hokkaido H5 series train sets, with car 1 at the Morioka end. All seats are reserved and no-smoking.
