JR Central and JR West released the outlines of train schedule for this spring, from March 1, 2010 through June 30.

According to them, many extra trains will run during busy days and hours. They said up to 9 Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and 5 direct services to Sanyo Shinkansen will be available in Friday evenings, three-day weekends and Golden Week holidays. The number of direct Nozomi services scheduled is 107 a day on average during the spring and 121 a day on average during Golden Week holidays.

Additionally more N700 series, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, will go into the service and 126 Nozomi trains in N700 series will run a day at the end of June. The number of Kodama trains of 700 series is also increased.

On March 1, Nozomi 29 and 6, the last Nozomi services of 500 series, will start to run in N700 series. This means regular Nozomi service in 500 will be finished at the end of February.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 29, changed from 500 series to N700 on March 1 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44)
• Nozomi 249※, changed from 700 series to N700 on April 15 (Tokyo 18:00 → Shin-osaka 20:36)
• Nozomi 221※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Tokyo 10:00 → Shin-osaka 12:36)
• Nozomi 263※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Tokyo 20:20 → Shin-osaka 22:56)

※ Nozomi 249, 221 and 263 are on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 6, changed from 500 series to N700 on March 1 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13)
• Nozomi 220※, changed from 700 series to N700 on April 15 (Shin-osaka 09:07 → Tokyo 11:43)
• Nozomi 228※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Shin-osaka 11:47 → Tokyo 14:23)
• Nozomi 254※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Shin-osaka 18:47 → Tokyo 21:23)

※ Nozomi 220, 228 and 254 are on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Westbound Kodama Trains newly using 700 series

• Kodama 679※, changed from 300 series to 700 on April 15 (Tokyo 18:26 → Nagoya 21:16)

※ Kodama 679 is on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Eastbound Kodama Trains newly using 700 series

• Kodama 644※, changed from 300 series to 700 on April 16 (Nagoya 10:28 → Tokyo 13:17)

※ Kodama 644 is on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Westbound Nozomi Trains using 500 series in February

• Nozomi 29 runs in 500 series daily until February 28 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44)
• Nozomi 193 runs in 500 series on February 5 and 10 (Tokyo 18:13 → Hakata 23:31)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains using 500 series in February

• Nozomi runs in 500 series daily until February 286 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13)
• Nozomi 152 runs in 500 series on February 5 and 10 (Hakata 07:12 → Tokyo 12:30)

EX-IC service will be available for Willcom users since February 14.

The service will be released on 2 models of Willcom PHS, WX340K and BAUM (WX341K).

Mobile Suica users are required to register for the special contract of View-Express (ビュー・エクスプレス特約) for JR East View Card members or the Express Reservation service membership for JR Central Express Card members.

JR Central and West released new schedule's outline of Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen which will be revised on March 13, 2010. The points of new schedule are expansion of opportunity for getting series N700 new model cars, boosting convenience of early-morning eastbound Nozomi service and growing in frequency of direct Nozomi service between Tokyo and Hakata.

All direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are in series N700!

The procurement of late model Shinkansen series N700 cars which are comfortable and enhancing energy conservation is now going in gear. With the new schedule, all of 101 direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen will be in series N700. Between Tokyo and Shin-osaka, about 70% of Nozomi trains will be in series N700.

Early-morning eastbound Nozomi service gets more convenient!

In weekday early-morning, 6 Nozomi trains in row leaving Shin-osaka and Kyoto and 7 leaving Nagoya will be in series N700. The travel time of some train will be reduced and operation intervals equalized. Nozomi 298 from Nagoya will be in series N700 and its departure time of Nagoya put off by 5 minutes without change of its arrival time for Shin-yokohama, Shinagawa and Tokyo. Also Nozomi 100 from Nishi-akashi will be in series N700 and it will arrive at Tokyo 7 minutes earlier than before. It means passengers from Nishi-akashi and Shin-kobe can arrive Tokyo before 9:00 with the new schedule.

3 Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata is aveilable in more hours!

In addition to two Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata, some Nozomi train will be expanded its travel reach to/from Hakata. The number of Nozomi trains between Tokyo and Hakata is 57 a day and it will be 65. In more hours of morning and evening, three Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata is available. And some Nozomi train's travel span will be shortened because it will run shortly before/after the travel range expanded Nozomi.

Revision of Hikari and Kodama services

One Kodama train between Tokyo and Shin-osaka will finish its travel at Nagoya and the following Hikari train will stop at Gifu-hashima and Maibara. The daily service of Hikari Rail Star in off season will be reduced by 5 round trips. Three Kodama trains between Okayama and Hiroshima, one between Hiroshima and Hakata and three between Kokura and Hakata will be omitted.

JR Central said that 16 additional Nozomi trains will run between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka during winter holidays. The availability of bookable seats will be increased by 17,168, including 3,200 seats of Green cars.

Tickets for these Nozomi are available from December 12. Of course this site Shinkansen Timetable provides travel plans to you including these additional trains.

Additional Westbound Nozomi Trains (from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka)

• December 29 [Tue]
  • Nozomi 339 Tokyo 11:47 → Shin-Osaka 14:23
• December 30 [Wed]
  • Nozomi 339 Tokyo 11:47 → Shin-Osaka 14:23
• December 31 [Thu]
  • Nozomi 339 Tokyo 11:47 → Shin-Osaka 14:23
• January 02 [Sat]
  • Nozomi 329 Tokyo 10:47 → Shin-Osaka 13:23
• Nozomi 331 Tokyo 11:13 → Shin-Osaka 13:50
• January 03 [Sun]
  • Nozomi 339 Tokyo 11:47 → Shin-Osaka 14:23
  • Nozomi 349 Tokyo 12:47 → Shin-Osaka 15:23
• January 04 [Mon]
  • Nozomi 383 Tokyo 16:23 → Shin-Osaka 19:00

Additional Eastbound Nozomi Trains (from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo)

• December 29 [Tue]
  • Nozomi 324 Shin-Osaka 10:43 → Tokyo 13:20
• December 30 [Wed]
  • Nozomi 342 Shin-Osaka 12:20 → Tokyo 14:56
• December 31 [Thu]
  • Nozomi 324 Shin-Osaka 10:43 → Tokyo 13:20
• January 02 [Sat]
  • Nozomi 348 Shin-Osaka 12:47 → Tokyo 15:23
  • Nozomi 358 Shin-Osaka 13:47 → Tokyo 16:23
• January 03 [Sun]
  • Nozomi 348 Shin-Osaka 12:47 → Tokyo 15:23
  • Nozomi 358 Shin-Osaka 13:47 → Tokyo 16:23
• January 04 [Mon]
  • Nozomi 358 Shin-Osaka 13:47 → Tokyo 16:23

All trains on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are intensively controlled by the control center in Tokyo. When the center lose its function in the event of a disaster, the vice control center in Osaka will work as a fallback. The switching of train control between Tokyo and Osaka is taken as a training every year. Inthis year 2009, the vice center in Osaka will control trains on December 5.

The changeover of control from Tokyo to Osaka will be taken after the last train of December 4 and the center in Osaka will control trains all day of December 5. The second changeover will be taken on December 6 and the Tokyo center will get back the directve function. While passengers on Shinkansen will not recognize any changes, it will be the testing day for the staffs who are supporting the normal operation of Shinkansen.

JR Central released that they will start to sell 2 kinds of discount ticket for New Year one-day trip.

Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket (新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ meaning Kodama and Wide-view Unlimited Ride Ticket on New Year's day) allows unlimited travel by Kodama on Tokaido Shinkansen and trains on JR Central conventional lines. And it costs from JPY 13,000. This ticket will be suited for the one-day trip along conventional lines with a short leg of Shinkansen.

Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket (新春のぞみグリーン早特日帰りきっぷ meaning Early Booking Discount Ticket for One-day Trip by First Class Seats in Nozomi) allows a roundtrip between Tokyo (or Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama) and Shin-Osaka (or Kyoto, Shin-Kobe) by Nozomi's first class seats. It costs only JPY 20,000. This ticket will be suited for the person who wants a quick roundtrip by comfortable cabins.

Brief Overview of Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket

• Name of the ticket
  • Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket (新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ meaning Kodama and Wide-view Unlimited Ride Ticket on New Year's day)
• Travel dates
  • January 1, 2010
• Period of selling
  • December 1, 2009 through January 1, 2010
• maximum period of travel
  • 1 day
• Prices
  • JPY 13,000 for second class non reservation seats (JPY 3,000 for a child)
  • JPY 15,000 for first class (seating up to 4 times) (JPY 5,000 for a child)
• Effects of the ticket
  • This ticket allows unlimited ride of second class non reservation seats on Kodama between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Hikari between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka, and limited express trains of JR Central conventional lines.
• The ticket for first class allows traveling by first class cabin up to 4 times. The seats must be assigned in advance.
• Effective sectors
  • Tokaido Shinkansen and JR Central conventional lines
• Purchasable at
  • major stations of JR Central, shops of JR Tokai Tours and travel vendors in Shizuoka and Nagoya area
• Remarks
  • This ticket is NOT valid for Nozomi, Hikari between Tokyo and Nagoya, and sleeper trains.
  • This ticket is NOT valid on Ise Railway (伊勢鉄道) and other company lines even though some trains go directly from JR lines to those company lines.

Brief Overview of Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket

• Name of the ticket
  • Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket (新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ meaning Kodama and Wide-view Unlimited Ride Ticket on New Year's day)
• Travel dates
  • January 1, 2010
• Period of selling
  • December 11, 2009 through December 25
• maximum period of travel
  • 1 day
• Prices
  • JPY 20,000
• Effects of the ticket
  • This ticket allows a roundtrip by Nozomi trains (first class) of a specific sector
• Effective sectors
  • between Tokyo (or Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama) and Shin-Osaka (or Kyoto, Shin-Kobe)
    * The sectors are including stations within the city area.
• Purchasable at
  • major stations around the departure area
  • major travel vendors
• Remarks
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • This ticket availability is limited.

Willcom said Express Yoyaku (エクスプレス予約 meaning Express Reservation) will be available on their PHS from December 5, 2009. The path is following; Willcom Official Site, Menu List, Life Information, Transportation and then Railroad/Bus/Boat.

By the way, enrollment of Willcom is about 4.39 million at the end of October, 2009. At the same time, DoCoMo is 55.24 million, au 31.26 and softbank 21.41. These figures mean Willcom users are not so large among mobile phone carriers but unignorable. As my own personal feeling, Willcom doesn't have a large users who are for Express Yoyaku. What is the reality?

In pararell with EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC Early Booking Discount, shortly called "IC Hayatoku") will be good for travels including train changings booked after December 5, 2009, the number of setting sectors for the service will be grown up. The setting sectors after this December are shown below and no new sectors from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Nishi-Akashi, Himeji and Okayama are available.

Setting Sectors of EX-IC Hayatoku after this December

• from/to Tokyo to/from stations between Mishima and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Asa and Shin-Shimonoseki)
• from/to Shinagawa to/from stations between Mishima and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Asa and Shin-Shimonoseki)
• from/to Shin-Yokohama to/from stations between Shin-Fuji and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Asa and Shin-Shimonoseki)
• from/to Odawara to/from stations between Kakegawa and Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Atami to/from stations between Kakegawa and Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hakata (newly to/from Shin-Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Shin-Onomichi、Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Mishima to/from stations between Tokyo and Shinagawa とKakegawa and Shin-Osaka, Okayama and Hakata (newly to/from Shin-Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Shin-Onomichi、Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Shin-Fuji to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama, Hamamatsu and Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kurashiki and Hakata (newly to/from Shin-Kurashiki, Fukuyama, Shin-Onomichi、Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Shizuoka to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama, Toyohashi and Kyoto, Fukuyama and Hakata (newly to/from Shin-Onomichi、Mihara, Higashi-Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Kakegawa to/from stations between Tokyo and Mishima, Higashi-Hiroshima and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Hamamatsu to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Fuji, Higashi-Hiroshima and Hakata (newly to/from Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Toyohashi to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Hiroshima and Hakata (newly to/from Hiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Mikawa-Anjo to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Tokuyama and Hakata (newly to/from Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Nagoya to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Tokuyama and Hakata (newly to/from Asa and Shin-Shimonoseki)
• from/to Gifu-Hashima to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Shin-Yamaguchi and Hakata (newly to/from Shin-Yamaguchi, Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Maibara to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Asa and Hakata (newly to/from Asa, Shin-Shimonoseki, Kokura and Hakata)
• from/to Kyoto to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka, Kokura and Hakata
• from/to Shin-Osaka to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Fuji, Kokura and Hakata
• from/to Shin-Kobe to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama, Kokura and Hakata
• from/to Nishi-Akashi to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama
• from/to Himeji to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama
• from/to Aioi to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Yokohama
• from/to Okayama to/from stations between Tokyo and Mishima
• from/to Shin-Kurashiki to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Fuji (newly to/from Atami, Mishima and Shin-Fuji)
• from/to Fukuyama to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka (newly to/from Atami, Mishima and Shin-Fuji)
• from/to Shin-Onomichito/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka (newly to/from Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji and Shizuoka)
• from/to Mihara to/from stations between Tokyo and Shizuoka (newly to/from Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji and Shizuoka)
• from/to Higashi-Hiroshima to/from stations between Tokyo and Hamamatsu (newly to/from Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa and Hamamatsu)
• from/to Hiroshima to/from stations between Tokyo and Toyohashi (newly to/from Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu and Toyohashi)
• from/to Shin-Iwakuni to/from stations between Tokyo and Toyohashi (newly to/from Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu and Toyohashi)
• from/to Tokuyama to/from stations between Tokyo and Nagoya (newly to/from Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi and Mikawa-Anjo)
• from/to Shin-Yamaguchi to/from stations between Tokyo and Gifu-Hashima (newly to/from Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo and Gifu-Hashima)
• from/to Asa to/from stations between Tokyo and Maibara (newly to/from Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima and Maibara)
• from/to Shin-Shimonoseki to/from stations between Tokyo and Maibara (newly to/from Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Nagoya, Gifu-Hashima and Maibara)
• from/to Kokura to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe (newly to/from Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Gifu-Hashima and Maibara)
• from/to Hakata to/from stations between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe (newly to/from Odawara, Atami, Mishima, Shin-Fuji, Shizuoka, Kakegawa, Hamamatsu, Toyohashi, Mikawa-Anjo, Gifu-Hashim and Maibara)

Though EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC Early Booking Discount, briefly called "IC Hayatoku") is now available for travels with single legs of direct trains, the discount will be also available for train changing travels booking after December 5, 2009. Journeys with up to 3 trains will be good for the service. It means the number of combination of departure place and destination will be enlarged and to get tickets will be easier than at present.

EX-IC Hayatoku rules are complicated. Because the prices and discounts are shown with additional statement of "until March 31, 2010" on the Express Yoyaku official site, the discount rules may be reviewed after next April. Personally speaking, the rules are too complicated to see and I anticipate an adoption of new simplified rules for EX-IC Hayatoku before too long.

This site "Shinkansen Timetable" is now developing to support the new EX-IC Hayatoku including train changing.

Brief Overview of EX-IC Hayatoku after this December

• Available for the person with membership of EX-IC service.
• Available for travels by up to three trains. But following sectors with EX-IC Hayatoku will be restricted to travel by a direct train; traveling from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama to/from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, traveling from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura, Hakata, and Green Car travel on Kodama train of Tokaido Shinkansen.
• Purchasable by 23:30 on three days prior to the travel dates.
• Changes are permitted until 23:30 on three days prior to the travel dates.
• On each train, assigned number of seats for the discount is limited.

Some new ekiben was started to sell in this October. Secondly, 3 ekibens started to sell after mid of October. These days, many new products promoting "local production for local consumption" are released.

Gyu Bara Kobe Chahan

• "牛バラ神戸チャーハン" meaning Kobe Styled Beef Back Ribs and Fried Rice Box
• Purchasable at: Shin-Kobe Station
• Price: JPY 1,050
• Release Date: October 29, 2009
• Features: stuffing box of stewed beef back ribs, grilled beef and fried rice
• Fillings: fried rice, stewed pork back ribs, grilled beef, cashew nuts, bell pepper, etc.

Hyogomon Soba-meshi Bento

• "兵庫もんそばめし弁当" meaning Hyogo Style Noodle-rice Box
• Purchasable at: Shin-Kobe Station
• Price: JPY 900
• Release Date: October14, 2009
• Features: limited production to 30 sets a day, featuring soba-meshi, a Hyogo local "class B" food of noodle and rice, with local ingredients
• Fillings: noodle of Hyogo prefecture-produced wheat, rice from Hyogo, cabbage from Hyogo, Kawatsu shrimp from Awaji, octopus from Akashi, firefly squid from off the coast of Hyogo, soba-meshi sause produced by Oliver Sauce Co. whose head office is located in Kobe, etc.

Kinki Aji Meguri Bento

• "近畿味めぐり弁当" meaning Box of Tasty Tour in Kinki
• Purchasable at: Kyoto and Shin-Osaka Station
• Price: JPY 950
• Release Date: October 15, 2009
• Features: packed local food from Kinki
• Fillings: rice with seasonal ingredients, pickled plum of Kishu style, fried cake of minced meat, french fried shishito, chikuzen-ni, rolled egg, ginger flavored satsuma age, etc.