Shinkansen timetables - can a train be both ‘Mizuho’ and ‘Nozomi’?

[Bayum]

Initially, I was interested in the journey comparison between the Kodama and the Nozomi services and whether there was really a big discrepancy. However, on perusing the timetable (https://global.jr-central.co.jp/en/info/timetable/_pdf/shinkansen_east_bound2411.pdf) trains 620 and 120, arriving Tokyo 13:06, have the same timetable between Hakata and Shin Osaka with only the Nozomi timetabled to continue to Tokyo. Now, there are some other services which look as if they are repeated (338, 118, 336) but these are Nozomi, yet 620 and 120 are Mizuho annd Nozomi respectively. Is it something to do with checking the day of service (each has a blue diamond) but in which case, how does one differentiate between Mizuho and Nozomi if both running to the same timetable?

 

[KK2109]

In Shinkansen's train plan, they tends to include every train paths. However, not every train will run on quieter days, leaving some paths unoccupied, which then might be used for test runs or "Dr. Yellow" (Shinkansen version of NMT).

Nozomi use 16 car N700A or N700S series (They operate all services on the Tokaido Shinkansen), while Mizuho use 8 car N700-7000/8000 series. In terms of the train categories and price, both of them are rank as express services, with the only difference being the the trains they use and the number of non-reserved coaches on the train. (3 in Nozomi, 0 in Mizuho)

In the case of Mizuho 620 and Nozomi 120, you might notice that Nozomi 338 is also using the same path between Osaka (10:39) and Tokyo (13:06). Nozomi 120 runs on 2/1, 11/1, and 25/1 in January, while Nozomi 338 runs on all other days. So this is a case of Nozomi 338 starting on Hakata as Nozomi 120 on certain days, probably as a relief service for the daily Nozomi 12 (Hakata 08:15-Tokyo 13:15). Then on 4/1 and 5/1, Mizuho 620 runs on the path between Hakata and Osaka, using 8 car N700, probably as part of a new year extra diagram.

Similar case for Nozomi 118 and Nozomi 336, but they operates less frequently, 23/11 only for Nozomi 118 and 2/1-5/1 for Nozomi 336. Looking at the timetable, both of them seems to be a peak relief service for Nozomi 10 (Hakata 08:00-Tokyo 12:57).

The timetable of Tokaido Shinkansen is based on a standard pattern, but out of the twelve Nozomi departing Tokyo every hour, only the xx:00, xx:12, xx:30, xx:48 are booked to run everyday, with the rest being extras. To make things more complex, some of the extra will have different destinations depending on the day and daily trains might be extended on busy days. For example Nozomi 221 (Tokyo 10:00-Osaka 12:30) being extended to Hakata and Hiroshima as Nozomi 129.

And since the train numbers are actually connected to the Headcode of each train, if the train are extended through Osaka they will need another Headcode as this involves the other company. (Train crew allocation, unit mileage, etc...)

Overall it is a very complex operation and their unit diagram seems to change every day, but it looks like both JRC and JRW are good at providing enough capacity for the demand.

 

[MarkyT]

It seems that to be Nozomi, a train must go to or from Tokyo. If part of the same path is used for an express, but it doesn't serve Tokyo on certain days/dates, it won't be thus classified.

 

[KK2109]

It seems that to be Nozomi, a train must go to or from Tokyo. If part of the same path is used for an express, but it doesn't serve Tokyo on certain days/dates, it won't be thus classified.

Nozomi trains don't have to serve Tokyo, every morning Nozomi 271, 273 starts from Nagoya, 497 starts from Shin-Yokohama, and 99 starts from Shinagawa. Also the last two eastbound Nozomi from Hakata (270, 272) terminate in Nagoya.

For a train to be Nozomi, it is determined by its stopping pattern and unit allocation, only 16 car N700A/S are used on Nozomi services.

 

[TommyL4]

If you can understand Japanese, you can tell from the notes that these trains indeed operate on different days, and thus have different names to make a distinction. Nozomi 120 operates on Nov 20-24, 29, 30, Dec 5-7, 12, 14, 15, 21, 22, 26, 31, Jan 2, 11, 15, Feb 1, 8, 9, 16, 22 and 23. Mizuho 620 operates on Jan 4 and Jan 5 only.
Nozomi serves at least some parts of the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Shin Osaka) and potentially parts of the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin Osaka-Hakata). All trains serving the Tokaido Shinkansen operate with 16 cars.
Mizuho only operates on the Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen (Shin Osaka-Hakata-Kagoshima Chuo), usually with 8-car trains.
Both are considered the fastest services and are a bit pricier than the slower trains if you book a reserved seat.

In Shinkansen's train plan, they tends to include every train paths. However, not every train will run on quieter days, leaving some paths unoccupied, which then might be used for test runs or "Dr. Yellow" (Shinkansen version of NMT).

Nozomi use 16 car N700A or N700S series (They operate all services on the Tokaido Shinkansen), while Mizuho use 8 car N700-7000/8000 series. In terms of the train categories and price, both of them are rank as express services, with the only difference being the the trains they use and the number of non-reserved coaches on the train. (3 in Nozomi, 0 in Mizuho)

In the case of Mizuho 620 and Nozomi 120, you might notice that Nozomi 338 is also using the same path between Osaka (10:39) and Tokyo (13:06). Nozomi 120 runs on 2/1, 11/1, and 25/1 in January, while Nozomi 338 runs on all other days. So this is a case of Nozomi 338 starting on Hakata as Nozomi 120 on certain days, probably as a relief service for the daily Nozomi 12 (Hakata 08:15-Tokyo 13:15). Then on 4/1 and 5/1, Mizuho 620 runs on the path between Hakata and Osaka, using 8 car N700, probably as part of a new year extra diagram.

Similar case for Nozomi 118 and Nozomi 336, but they operates less frequently, 23/11 only for Nozomi 118 and 2/1-5/1 for Nozomi 336. Looking at the timetable, both of them seems to be a peak relief service for Nozomi 10 (Hakata 08:00-Tokyo 12:57).

The timetable of Tokaido Shinkansen is based on a standard pattern, but out of the twelve Nozomi departing Tokyo every hour, only the xx:00, xx:12, xx:30, xx:48 are booked to run everyday, with the rest being extras. To make things more complex, some of the extra will have different destinations depending on the day and daily trains might be extended on busy days. For example Nozomi 221 (Tokyo 10:00-Osaka 12:30) being extended to Hakata and Hiroshima as Nozomi 129.

And since the train numbers are actually connected to the Headcode of each train, if the train are extended through Osaka they will need another Headcode as this involves the other company. (Train crew allocation, unit mileage, etc...)

Overall it is a very complex operation and their unit diagram seems to change every day, but it looks like both JRC and JRW are good at providing enough capacity for the demand.

This is a great explanation, but I would add that Mizuho also has 3 non-reserved coaches. Things are complicated with Nozomi - they no longer offer non-reserved seats during peak holiday seasons, and will offer only 2 non-reserved coaches starting 2025 Spring.

 

[MarkyT]

Nozomi trains don't have to serve Tokyo, every morning Nozomi 271, 273 starts from Nagoya, 497 starts from Shin-Yokohama, and 99 starts from Shinagawa. Also the last two eastbound Nozomi from Hakata (270, 272) terminate in Nagoya.

For a train to be Nozomi, it is determined by its stopping pattern and unit allocation, only 16 car N700A/S are used on Nozomi services.

I expect these trains are setting off early from the depot to serve major intercity flows further out west along the Tokaido, but avoid going into and back out of Tokyo station itself as it's probably too early to pick up much custom. Maybe the station isn't yet open to the public so early, or they'd impinge on regular overnight engineering hours for the sections concerned. Shin-Yokahama and Shinagawa both still serve the greater Tokyo area even if the trains don't go to the central station.

 

[KK2109]

This is a great explanation, but I would add that Mizuho also has 3 non-reserved coaches. Things are complicated with Nozomi - they no longer offer non-reserved seats during peak holiday seasons, and will offer only 2 non-reserved coaches starting 2025 Spring.

Forgot that Mizuho also got 3 non-reserved coaches, it will be strange offering more non-reserved seats than Nozomi from 2025 timetable change. I guess the reservation mandatory during peak holiday is for crowd control, as in previous years overcrowding lead to significant delays on certain services.

I expect these trains are setting off early from the depot to serve major intercity flows further out west along the Tokaido, but avoid going into and back out of Tokyo station itself as it's probably too early to pick up much custom. Maybe the station isn't yet open to the public so early, or they'd impinge on regular overnight engineering hours for the sections concerned. Shin-Yokahama and Shinagawa both still serve the greater Tokyo area even if the trains don't go to the central station.

I believe it is required by law that Shinkansen only operates between 06:00-24:00. It is very impressive that demands from greater Tokyo area to the west justifies three 16 carriages trains at 6:00.