“Hayabusa”, the newest bullet train model launching
On this Mar.5th, the latest model of the bullet train of The Tohoku Shinkansen line(東北新幹線, Tohoku Bullet Train Line) E5 series called “Hayabusa” (/はやぶさ, falcon)launched and went into service. 
Hayabusa travels at 300 km/h which is the fastest of all the bullet train lines in Japan (the same velocity with that of N700 series of Sanyo Shinkansen line) and travels between Tokyo Station in Tokyo and Shin- Aomori Station (/新青森駅, New Aomori Station) in Aomori Pref. , one of the prefectures in Tohoku, the Northeast Region of Japan (the distance is totally 713.7 km)in 3 hous and 10 minutes. It takes two round trips a day and is planned to start travelng faster at 320 km/h at the least by the end of 2012. 
The grand opening ceremony was hosted by JR east Japan, the company of the line at Tokyo Station on the 5th with presence and celebration by its chairperson Mutsutake Otsuka(/大塚陸毅). The first train bound for Tokyo departed Shin- Aomori at 6:10am and the first bound for Shin- Aomori departed Tokyo Station at 8:20am. All of the first day’s tickets were sold out just in 40 seconds after having started selling,which has proven its great popularity.
The most notable feature of this new model may be that it is equipped with the first class seats named “Glan Class” for the first time in the Japanese bullet train lines’ history. The Glan Class contains only 18 seats equipped with the first car which has a special appearance of a rather flat and smooth shape in order to reduce possible noise a fast trains tend to make. Glan Class seats are all spacious and covered with deluxe leather. A passenger of Glan Class is provided with a free lunch box and free beverage services. 
A ticket of an economy seat costs ￥16,870 (≒$205,€146),and, a Glan Class costs ￥26,360(≒$320,€229) between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori. The Tohoku Shinkansen line ,which just fully opened on Dec.04 2010, now has a new model and services drawing huge attentions and popularity of people. A lot of travel agencies have various new tour plans to Aomori or other Tohoku Region using the bullet train line, expecting carrying so many interested tourists and visitors. I hope this new situation propels
(3 投票, 平均値/最大値: 5.00 / 5)
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