It might sound a bit sudden, but do you know the train in the photo at the top of this post?
If you are familiar with Japanese trains, maybe it’s easy. The front car has that cute, streamlined shape that almost looks like a smile. So yes, it is JR East’s E3-2000 series Shinkansen.
But still… something feels a little strange, doesn’t it?
There are no stripes on the front, and all the passenger windows are closed.
What kind of train is this?
Actually, this is a freight-only Shinkansen, Set L69 of the E3 series. It used to be a regular passenger train when it was introduced in 2009, but it was refurbished this January. All the seats were removed and the floors were made flat for cargo. The train has seven cars and can carry up to 17.4 tons of freight—about 1,000 boxes.
It started service on March 23, running between Morioka and Tokyo on the Tohoku Shinkansen line. Interestingly, it is coupled behind a normal 10-car E5 series passenger train. Thanks to this, JR East doesn’t have to add extra train slots on the already busy timetable.
The nickname of this freight-only Shinkansen is “Hakobyun.”
It comes from the Japanese words hako (box) and byun (a “whoosh” sound). Since it’s a very fast freight train, I think the name fits perfectly.
So, what does Hakobyun actually carry?
If you look at the photo below, you can see some examples: fresh fish, oysters, squid, sea urchins, and many other seafood items. It is also ideal for urgent items like blood products for transfusion, and for delicate precision machines that should not be shaken.
Hakobyun, thank you for your hard work. I’m cheering for your future success on the Shinkansen tracks!
