Looking like a wicked flying turquoise eel, Hokkaido Shinkansen marks 1 year since launch

The Hayabusa train of the Hokkaido Shinkansen line. Jiji Press
Hokkaido (Jiji Press) — The Hokkaido Shinkansen line, which connects Honshu and Hokkaido by high-speed trains, marked one year into service on Sunday.
Commemorative events were held at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in the Hokkaido city of Hokuto, near Hakodate, and Shin-Aomori Station in Aomori Prefecture.
At Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, a ceremony welcomed the arrival of passengers on the Hayabusa No. 1 train, the day’s first from Tokyo.
Participants at the ceremony included Osamu Shimada, president of Hokkaido Railway Co., or JR Hokkaido, Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi and Hokuto Mayor Toshimine Takaya.
A birthday cake in the shape of the H5 Shinkansen series with a purple line signifying lavender from Hokkaido was used for a cake-cutting ceremony.
At Shin-Aomori Station, a local costumed mascot character and station personnel welcomed passengers.
The 149-kilometer Hokkaido Shinkansen line connects Shin-Aomori Station and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station through the 54-kilometer undersea Seikan Tunnel in as short as one hour and one minute.
Shinkansen trains share the track with local freight trains on an 82-kilometer section including the tunnel underneath the Tsugaru Strait. … (more)
via The Japan News
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