Misplaced Pages

#61938

74-528: The N700 series ( N700系 , Enu nana-hyaku-kei ) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines since 2007, and is operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen line. N700 series trains have a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), and tilting of up to one degree allows

148-588: A Nozomi run in as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes on the fastest service (8 minutes faster than before). A new train, the N700S , entered service in 2020 with plans to eventually replace all N700-series trains. The first four sets began operation on 1 July 2020. N700 series trains gradually replaced 300, 500 and 700 series sets on Nozomi services, and by the end of February 2009, the N700 series were responsible for 74 Nozomi services per day. All Nozomi through runs (over

222-550: A 25 kV AC overhead power supply (20 kV AC on Mini-shinkansen lines), to overcome the limitations of the 1,500 V direct current used on the existing electrified narrow-gauge system. Power is distributed along the train's axles to reduce the heavy axle loads under single power cars. The AC frequency of the power supply for the Tokaido Shinkansen is 60 Hz. Shinkansen trains are electric multiple units (EMUs), offering fast acceleration, deceleration and reduced damage to

296-500: A world record 603 km/h (375 mph) for SCMaglev trains in April 2015. The original Tokaido Shinkansen, connecting Tokyo , Nagoya , and Osaka , three of Japan's largest cities, is one of the world's busiest high-speed rail lines. In the one-year period preceding March 2017, it carried 159 million passengers, and since its opening more than six decades ago, it has transported more than 6.4 billion total passengers. At peak times,

370-631: A Green car saloon in half of one car (car 6) consisting of 24 seats (6 rows) arranged in 2+2 abreast configuration. Cars 4 to 8 (including half of car 6) are designated as "reserved seating" cars with 2+2 abreast configuration. Cars 1 to 3 are "non-reserved seating" cars with 2+3 abreast configuration. As of 1 April 2016, the fleet consists of 11 sets, all based at Kumamoto Shinkansen Depot. Shinkansen The Shinkansen ( Japanese : 新幹線 , [ɕiŋkaꜜɰ̃seɴ] , lit.   ' new trunk line ' ) , colloquially known in English as

444-514: A bullet and its high speed. The Shinkansen name was first formally used in 1940 for a proposed standard gauge passenger and freight line between Tokyo and Shimonoseki that would have used steam and electric locomotives with a top speed of 200 km/h (120 mph). Over the next three years, the Ministry of Railways drew up more ambitious plans to extend the line to Beijing (through a tunnel to Korea ) and even Singapore , and build connections to

518-437: A concern for residents living close to tunnel portals. The slab track consists of rails, fasteners and track slabs with a cement asphalt mortar. On the roadbed and in tunnels, circular upstands, measuring 400–520 mm (16–20 inches) in diameter and 200 mm (7.9 inches) high, are located at 5-metre intervals. The prefabricated upstands are made of either reinforced concrete or pre-stressed reinforced concrete; they prevent

592-492: A cost of 88 billion yen. In October 2015, JR Central announced that it had ordered a further 20 N700A series sets to be delivered between fiscal 2016 and 2019, replacing all of the remaining 700 series trains sets on Tokaido Shinkansen services. The first set, G1, was delivered to Hamamatsu in August 2012, with test running commencing on the Tokaido Shinkansen the following month. The 16-car G sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at

666-535: A dispute between JR East and JR Central about the use of the two platforms which were added to the Tokaido line's half of Tokyo station. Before JNR's privatization, they were conceived as being shared with the Tohoku line, and their construction used funds allocated to the Tohoku line's extension to Tokyo; however, the extension was finished after privatization, by which time the platforms were owned by JR Central. Therefore, there

740-499: A high ride quality and less electrical equipment. ) In Japan, significant engineering desirability exists for the electric multiple unit configuration. A greater proportion of motored axles permits higher acceleration, so the Shinkansen does not lose as much time if stopping frequently. Shinkansen lines have more stops in proportion to their lengths than high-speed lines elsewhere in the world. The main Shinkansen lines are: In practice,

814-579: A low-interest loan of US$ 80 million from the World Bank . Initial estimates, however, were understated and the actual cost was about 380 billion yen. As the budget shortfall became clear in 1963, Sogo resigned to take responsibility. A test facility for rolling stock, called the Kamonomiya Model Section, opened in Odawara in 1962. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen began service on 1 October 1964, in time for

SECTION 10

#1733086059062

888-662: A minimum curve radius of 4,000 m (13,123 ft) (2,500 m (8,202 ft) on the oldest Tōkaidō Shinkansen). The Shinkansen uses 1,435 mm ( 4 ft  8 + 1 ⁄ 2  in ) standard gauge in contrast to the 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ) narrow gauge of most other lines in Japan. Continuous welded rail and swingnose crossing points are employed, eliminating gaps at turnouts and crossings. Long rails are used, joined by expansion joints to minimize gauge fluctuation due to thermal elongation and shrinkage. A combination of ballasted and slab track

962-672: A passenger committed suicide on board a Shinkansen train by setting himself on fire, killing another passenger and seriously injuring seven other people. There have been two derailments of Shinkansen trains in passenger service. The first one occurred during the Chūetsu earthquake on 23 October 2004 . Eight of ten cars of the Toki No. 325 train on the Jōetsu Shinkansen derailed near Nagaoka Station in Nagaoka, Niigata . There were no casualties among

1036-422: A range of advanced technology compared with conventional rail, achieving not only high speed but also a high standard of safety and comfort. Its success has influenced other railways in the world, demonstrating the importance and advantages of high-speed rail . Shinkansen routes never intersect with slower, narrow-gauge conventional lines (except mini-shinkansen , which runs along these older lines). Consequently,

1110-508: A seat pitch of 1,040 mm. Cars 1 to 3 are "non-reserved seating" cars with 2+3 abreast configuration, 440 mm wide seats (460 mm in middle of 3-seat row) and a seat pitch of 1,040 mm. As of 1 April 2016, the fleet consists of 19 sets, all based at Hakata Shinkansen Depot. These are eleven 8-car N700 series sets operated by JR Kyushu alongside JR-West N700-7000 series "S" sets on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on

1184-400: A standard-gauge rail has a curve with a maximum speed of 145 km/h (90 mph), the same curve on narrow-gauge rail will have a maximum allowable speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). Consequently, Japan had a greater need for new high-speed lines than countries where the existing standard gauge or broad gauge rail system had more upgrade potential. Among the key people credited with

1258-659: A trainset in order to perform high-speed tests. This train gave designers the confidence that they could safely build an even faster standard gauge train. Thus the first Shinkansen, the 0 series, was built on the success of the Romancecar. In the 1950s, the Japanese national attitude was that as was happening in the United States, railways would soon be outdated and replaced by air travel and highways. However, Shinji Sogō , President of Japanese National Railways , insisted strongly on

1332-622: Is a new version of the N700 series design delivered from August 2012, and entering revenue service from 8 February 2013. The new version is externally identical to the existing N700 series sets, with the addition of new "N700A" logos on each odd-numbered car. The new trains include modified brake discs, bogie vibration detection, and ATC improvements. Six "G" sets were scheduled to be introduced during fiscal 2012, replacing older 700 series sets, with seven more sets introduced during fiscal 2013. A further 18 sets are on order by JR Central, to be delivered six sets per year between fiscal 2014 and 2016 at

1406-559: Is as follows. These are N700A series sets owned by JR-West and classified N700-4000 series, with one set (set F1) delivered in November 2013 and entering revenue service from 8 February 2014. A further four sets were delivered each in fiscal 2015 (sets F2 to F5) and fiscal 2016 (sets F6 to F9), followed by three in fiscal 2017 (sets F10 to F12), five in fiscal 2018 (sets F13 to F17), and seven in fiscal 2019 (sets F18 to F24). The 16-car F sets are formed as follows. As of 1 April 2020,

1480-714: Is no through service between those lines. All northbound services from Tokyo travel along the Tohoku Shinkansen until at least Ōmiya before splitting off towards Sendai or Takasaki. Two further lines, known as Mini-shinkansen , have also been constructed by re-gauging and upgrading existing sections of line: There are two standard-gauge lines not technically classified as Shinkansen lines but run Shinkansen trains as they use tracks leading to Shinkansen storage/maintenance yards: The following lines are under construction. These lines except Chūō Shinkansen , called Seibi Shinkansen  [ ja ] or planned Shinkansen , are

1554-456: Is to be made in a bid to retire four of the remaining 500 series sets on the San'yo Shinkansen. The conversions of the first four sets are set to take place between 2024 and the end of 2026. JR West later announced on 24 July 2024 that ten more 16-car N700 series sets are also scheduled to be converted to 8-car sets from 2026 to 2029. The N700-1000 series, or "N700A" (with "A" standing for "Advanced"),

SECTION 20

#1733086059062

1628-640: Is used as public transit seat coverings in many countries. Because it was relatively cheap to produce and readily available, the fabric began to be used in London in the 1920s. It is still used a century later, particularly to upholster the seats of London Underground 's Tube trains. Such seat covers may be designed with intricate bright colored patterns to conceal wear. These may reflect local culture and history, such as "Barman" or "Landmark" designed in 2010 for London public transportation seat coverings that depict local landmarks. This article about textiles

1702-479: Is used in toilets and washing areas. As of 1 April 2020, the N700A series G set fleet is as follows. These are former N700 series Z sets modified between 2013 and August 2015 to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Cars are renumbered in the -2000 subseries, with the exception of set X0, which is still numbered in the -9000 subseries. The sets are also identified by

1776-437: Is used to describe both the railway lines the trains run on and the trains themselves. In English, the trains are also known as the bullet train. The term bullet train ( 弾丸列車 , dangan ressha ) originates from 1939, and was the initial name given to the Shinkansen project in its earliest planning stages. Furthermore, the name super express ( 超特急 , chō-tokkyū ) , used exclusively until 1972 for Hikari trains on

1850-431: Is used, with slab track exclusively employed on concrete bed sections such as viaducts and tunnels. Slab track is significantly more cost-effective in tunnel sections, since the lower track height reduces the cross-sectional area of the tunnel, reducing construction costs up to 30%. However, the smaller diameter of Shinkansen tunnels, compared to some other high-speed lines, has resulted in the issue of tunnel boom becoming

1924-662: The 0 series , ran at speeds of up to 210 km/h (130 mph), later increased to 220 km/h (137 mph). The last of these trains, with their classic bullet-nosed appearance, were retired on 30 November 2008. A driving car from one of the 0 series trains was donated by JR West to the National Railway Museum in York , United Kingdom in 2001. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen's rapid success prompted an extension westward to Okayama , Hiroshima and Fukuoka (the San'yō Shinkansen ), which

1998-541: The Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011. The pre-series set (S1) was delivered to Hakata Depot in October 2008. These trains do not feature the tilting mechanism of the earlier N700 trains, as they do not run on the Tokaido Shinkansen. External livery is shiraai ( 白藍 ) pale blue intended to evoke the colour of traditional porcelain with indigo and gold bodyside lining. Full-production JR-West sets were delivered to Hakata Depot from early April 2010. The final S set, S19,

2072-730: The Narita Sky Access Line which opened in 2010, and the Keiyo Line reused space originally set aside for the Narita Shinkansen terminus at Tokyo Station . Although the Sky Access Line uses standard-gauge track, it was not built to Shinkansen specifications and there are no plans to convert it into a full Shinkansen line. Many Shinkansen lines were proposed during the boom of the early 1970s but have yet to be constructed and have subsequently been shelved indefinitely. In addition,

2146-489: The Tokaido Shinkansen (515.4 km; 320.3 mi) in 1964, the network has expanded to consist of 2,951.3 km (1,833.9 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 260–320 km/h (160–200 mph), 283.5 km (176.2 mi) of Mini-shinkansen lines with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (80 mph), and 10.3 km (6.4 mi) of spur lines with Shinkansen services. The network links most major cities on

2220-582: The Trans-Siberian Railway and other trunk lines in Asia. These plans were abandoned in 1943 as Japan's position in World War II worsened. However, some construction did commence on the line; several tunnels on the present-day Shinkansen date to the war-era project. Following the end of World War II, high-speed rail was forgotten for several years while traffic of passengers and freight steadily increased on

2294-736: The Tōhoku Shinkansen ; only the Shanghai maglev train , China Railway High-speed networks, and the Indonesian Jakarta-Bandung High-speed railway have commercial services that operate faster. Since 1970, development has also been underway for the Chūō Shinkansen , a planned maglev line from Tokyo to Osaka. On 21 April 2015, a seven-car L0 series maglev trainset set a world speed record of 603 km/h (375 mph). To enable high-speed operation, Shinkansen uses

N700 Series Shinkansen - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-576: The Tōkaidō Shinkansen , is used today in English-language announcements and signage. Japan was the first country to build dedicated railway lines for high-speed travel. Because of the mountainous terrain, the existing network consisted of 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ) narrow-gauge lines, which generally took indirect routes and could not be adapted to higher speeds due to technical limitations of narrow-gauge rail. For example, if

2442-589: The bullet train , is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan . It was initially built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo , the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond long-distance travel, some sections around the largest metropolitan areas are used as a commuter rail network. It is owned by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency and operated by five Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with

2516-431: The first Tokyo Olympics . The conventional Limited Express service took six hours and 40 minutes from Tokyo to Osaka, but the Shinkansen made the trip in just four hours, shortened to three hours and ten minutes by 1965. It enabled day trips between Tokyo and Osaka, the two largest metropolises in Japan, significantly changed the style of business and life of the Japanese people, and increased new traffic demand. The service

2590-554: The locomotive (also known as power car) configuration with the Renfe Class 102 and continues with it for the Talgo AVRIL because it is not possible to use powered bogies as part of Talgo's bogie design, which uses a modified Jacobs bogie with a single axle instead of two and allows the wheels to rotate independently of each other, on the ICE 2, TGV and KTX it is because it easily allows for

2664-450: The -2000 subseries. The modified sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos. The first original "Z" set, set Z65, was modified to become set X65 in May 2013, with the last original "Z" set, set Z4, modified to become set X4 in August 2015. The prototype set Z0 was used as a JR Central test train with cars numbered in the -9000 series, and

2738-636: The 154 passengers. Another derailment happened on 2 March 2013 on the Akita Shinkansen when the Komachi No. 25 train derailed in blizzard conditions in Daisen, Akita . No passengers were injured. In the event of an earthquake, an earthquake detection system can bring the train to a stop very quickly; newer trainsets are lighter and have stronger braking systems, allowing for quicker stopping. New anti-derailment devices were installed on tracks after analysis of

2812-565: The Basic Plan specified that the Jōetsu Shinkansen should start from Shinjuku , not Tokyo Station , which would have required building an additional 30 km (19 mi) of track between Shinjuku and Ōmiya. While no construction work was ever started, land along the proposed track, including an underground section leading to Shinjuku Station, remains reserved. If capacity on the Tokyo–Ōmiya section proves insufficient at some point, construction of

2886-719: The JR-West N700A series fleet is as follows. These are JR-West trainsets modified from October 2013 from former N700 series N sets to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. The 16-car N sets were operated by JR-West on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen services. The first set, N1, was delivered in June 2007, entering service on 1 July 2007. 16 sets were in service by April 2014. The fleet of 16 "N" sets subsequently underwent modifications at Hakata Depot between fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2015 to add improved braking systems and other features incorporated in

2960-627: The Jōetsu derailment. Several months after the exposure of the Kobe Steel falsification scandal , which is among the suppliers of high-strength steel for Shinkansen trainsets, cracks were found upon inspection of a single bogie , and removed from service on 11 December 2017. Moquette Moquette originated in France, where it was woven by hand. Named after the French word for carpet , its standard width

3034-636: The Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011. External livery is identical to the N700-7000 series "S" sets. The first set, R1, was delivered to Kumamoto Depot in July 2010. Test running on the unopened section of the Kyushu Shinkansen began on 31 August 2010. The 8-car R sets are formed as follows. Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph. As with the JR-West N700-7000 series sets, the R sets feature

N700 Series Shinkansen - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-520: The L0 series could be a passenger train. The Shinkansen is very reliable thanks to several factors, including its near-total separation from slower traffic. There are separate laws governing interfering with or otherwise obstructing Shinkansen trains, tracks, or its operation. In 2016, JR Central reported that the Shinkansen's average delay from schedule per train was 24 seconds. This includes delays due to uncontrollable causes, such as natural disasters. Over

3182-565: The Shin-Osaka (western) end and car 16 at the Tokyo (eastern) end. Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Internally, seats have new moquette seat covers, and LED lighting

3256-549: The Shinjuku–Ōmiya link may be reconsidered. In December 2009, then transport minister Seiji Maehara proposed a bullet train link to Haneda Airport , using an existing spur that connects the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to a train depot. JR Central called the plan "unrealistic" due to tight train schedules on the existing line, but reports said that Maehara wished to continue discussions on the idea. The succeeding minister has not indicated whether this proposal remains supported. While

3330-540: The Shinkansen projects designated in the Basic Plan of the Shinkansen Railway  [ ja ] decided by the government. The Narita Shinkansen project to connect Tokyo to Narita International Airport , initiated in the 1970s but halted in 1983 after landowner protests, has been officially cancelled and removed from the Basic Plan governing Shinkansen construction. Parts of its planned right-of-way were used by

3404-500: The Shinkansen's 60-plus year history, carrying over 10 billion passengers, there have been no passenger fatalities due to train accidents such as derailments or collisions, despite frequent earthquakes and typhoons. Injuries and a single fatality have been caused by doors closing on passengers or their belongings; attendants are employed at platforms to prevent such accidents. There have, however, been suicides by passengers jumping both from and in front of moving trains. On 30 June 2015,

3478-551: The Tokaido Shinkansen, since March 2020. Since March 2009, the N700 series trains have been equipped with wireless internet available for use between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains would be abolished by Q2 2024. In another announcement made on 14 February 2024, JR West revealed plans to convert four existing 16-car N700 series sets into 8-car formations. This move

3552-480: The Tokaido, San'yō, and Kyushu lines form a contiguous west/southbound line from Tokyo, as train services run between the Tokaido and San'yō lines and between the San'yō and Kyushu lines, though the lines are operated by different companies. The Tokaido Shinkansen tracks are not physically connected to the lines of the Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, as they use different electrification standards, signaling systems, and earthquake mitigation devices. There also exists

3626-489: The addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos. The prototype 16-car train (Z0) was delivered in March 2005 for extensive testing and endurance running. Cars 1 to 4 were built by Hitachi , cars 5 to 14 were built by Nippon Sharyo , and cars 15 and 16 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries . It was initially fitted with two auxiliary headlights located below the nose. The first full-production Z set (Z1)

3700-578: The construction of the first Shinkansen are Hideo Shima , the Chief Engineer, and Shinji Sogō , the first President of Japanese National Railways (JNR) who managed to persuade politicians to back the plan. Other significant people responsible for its technical development were Tadanao Miki, Tadashi Matsudaira, and Hajime Kawanabe based at the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI), part of JNR. They were responsible for much of

3774-528: The conventional Tōkaidō Main Line along with the reconstruction of Japanese industry and economy. By the mid-1950s the Tōkaidō Line was operating at full capacity, and the Ministry of Railways decided to revisit the Shinkansen project. In 1957, Odakyu Electric Railway introduced its 3000 series SE Romancecar train, setting a world speed record of 145 km/h (90 mph) for a narrow gauge train when JNR leased

SECTION 50

#1733086059062

3848-476: The conventional loading gauge for 1,067mm lines still applies on mini-Shinkansen lines. The Shinkansen has used EMUs from the outset, with the 0 Series Shinkansen having all axles powered. Other railway manufacturers were traditionally reluctant or unable to use distributed traction configurations ( Talgo , the German ICE 2 and the French (and subsequently South Korean) TGV (and KTX-I and KTX-Sancheon ) use

3922-550: The development of the N700A, an incremental evolution of the N700. N700A trains can reach 285 km/h (177 mph) on 3,000 m (9,843 ft) curves, allowing the maximum operating speed on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to be raised to 285 km/h (177 mph). All N700 series sets have been retrofitted with most of the improvements added to the N700A series, and are now classified as "N700 A ". Because of these improvements, trains can travel between Tokyo and Osaka on

3996-709: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ), rail projects in the vicinity of Haneda Airport, including the Haneda Airport Access Line and the Tokyo Rinkai Subway Line , continue to undergo planning. Originally intended to carry passenger trains by day and freight trains by night, the Shinkansen lines carried exclusively passengers for the first five and a half decades of their operation. Lght freight has been carried on some passenger services since 2019, and there are plans to expand this with freight-only trains in

4070-429: The full route between Tokyo and Hakata) were scheduled to use the N700 series exclusively by 2009. From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, all regularly scheduled Nozomi services, including runs limited only to the Tokaido Shinkansen, were operated by N700 series sets. Since 4 March 2017, the N700 is also used on regularly scheduled Hikari services during the day, as well as all Kodama trains on

4144-896: The future. The system shuts down between midnight and 06:00 every day for maintenance. Japan's few remaining overnight passenger trains run on the older, narrow-gauge network that the Shinkansen parallels. There are three principal service types on the Shinkansen: Trains are up to sixteen cars long. With each car measuring 25 m (82 ft) in length, the longest trains are 400 m ( 1 ⁄ 4  mile) end to end. Stations are similarly long to accommodate these trains. Some of Japan's high-speed maglev trains are considered Shinkansen, while other slower maglev trains (such as Linimo , serving local communities in and nearby Nagoya , Aichi Prefecture ) are intended as alternatives to conventional urban rapid transit systems. These trains were and are used only for experimental runs, though

4218-461: The high cost of building the Shinkansen network. By the early 1980s, the company was practically insolvent, leading to its privatization in 1987. Development of the Shinkansen by the privatised regional JR companies has continued, with new train models developed, each generally with its own distinctive appearance (such as the 500 series introduced by JR West ). Since 2014, Shinkansen trains run regularly at speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph) on

4292-413: The islands of Honshu and Kyushu , and connects to Hakodate on the northern island of Hokkaido . An extension to Sapporo is under construction and scheduled to open in March 2031. The maximum operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph) (on a 387.5 km (241 mi) section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen ). Test runs have reached 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to

4366-560: The later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "K" sets, with cars renumbered in the -5000 subseries. The 16-car K sets are formed as follows. The 16-car N sets were formed as follows. Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph. As of 1 April 2016, the JR-West N700 A series fleet is as follows. The N700-7000 series variant are 8-car sets operated by JR-West on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Ōsaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on

4440-653: The line carries up to 16 trains per hour in each direction with 16 cars each (1,323-seat capacity and occasionally additional standing passengers) with a minimum headway of three minutes between trains. The Shinkansen network of Japan had the highest annual passenger ridership (a maximum of 386 million in 2007) of any high-speed rail network until 2011, when the Chinese high-speed railway network surpassed it at 370 million passengers annually, reaching over 2.9 billion annual passengers in 2023. Shinkansen ( 新幹線 ) in Japanese means 'new trunk line' or 'new main line', but this word

4514-452: The more common 4-abreast (2+2) seating usually found elsewhere. On occasions, this wider loading gauge was also used to allow 6-abreast seating (3+3) on certain trains, such as the E1 and E4 series sets. This, combined with a lack of power cars, allows for a higher passenger capacity within a shorter train length. However, since mini-Shinkansen lines are effectively track-regauged conventional lines,

SECTION 60

#1733086059062

4588-591: The plan may become more feasible after the opening the Chūō Shinkansen (sometimes referred to as a bypass to the Tokaido Shinkansen) frees up capacity, construction is already underway for other rail improvements between Haneda and Tokyo station expected to be completed prior to the opening of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics , so any potential Shinkansen service would likely offer only marginal benefit. Despite these plans ultimately not being realized (owing in part due to

4662-453: The possibility of high-speed rail , and the Shinkansen project was implemented. Government approval came in December 1958, and construction of the first segment of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka started in April 1959. The cost of constructing the Shinkansen was at first estimated at nearly 200 billion yen, which was raised in the form of a government loan, railway bonds and

4736-628: The shinkansen is not affected by slower local or freight trains (except for Hokkaido Shinkansen while traveling through the Seikan Tunnel ), and has the capacity to operate many high-speed trains punctually. In addition, shinkansen routes (excluding mini-shinkansen) are completely grade separated from roads and highways, meaning railway crossings are almost eliminated. Tracks are strictly off-limits with penalties against trespassing strictly regulated by law. The routes use tunnels and viaducts to go through and over obstacles rather than around them, with

4810-407: The technical development of the first line, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen . All three had worked on aircraft design during World War II . The popular English name bullet train is a literal translation of the Japanese term dangan ressha ( 弾丸列車 ) , a nickname given to the project while it was initially discussed in the 1930s. The name stuck because of the original 0 Series Shinkansen 's resemblance to

4884-501: The track because of the use of lighter vehicles compared to locomotives or power cars. The coaches are air-sealed to ensure stable air pressure when entering tunnels at high speed. Shinkansen trains (excluding mini-Shinkansen) are also built to a larger loading gauge compared to conventional-speed rolling stock. This larger loading gauge permits wider coaches, allowing for 5-abreast seating (2+3) in Standard Class coaches, compared to

4958-697: The track slab from moving latitudinally or longitudinally. One track slab weighs approximately 5 tons and is 2,220–2,340 mm (87–92 inches) wide, 4,900–4,950 mm (193–195 inches) long and 160–200 mm (6.3–7.9 inches) thick. The Shinkansen employs an ATC (Automatic Train Control) system, eliminating the need for trackside signals. It uses a comprehensive system of Automatic Train Protection . Centralized traffic control manages all train operations, and all tasks relating to train movement, track, station and schedule are networked and computerized. Shinkansen uses

5032-457: The trains to maintain 270 km/h (168 mph), even on 2,500 m (8,202 ft) radius curves that previously had a maximum speed of 255 km/h (158 mph). Another feature of the N700 is that it accelerates more quickly than the older 700 series Shinkansen trains, with a maximum acceleration rate of 2.6 km/h/s (0.72 m/s). This enables it to reach 270 km/h (170 mph) in only three minutes. Further advancements led to

5106-638: Was a Flemish ell of 27 inches. There were two finishes: moquette velouté , which had a cut pile like English Wilton carpet, and moquette bouclé , which had an uncut pile like Brussels carpet. It is still woven in Yorkshire using traditional techniques. Moquette is occasionally used in clothing. In 1932–33, the United States Army Air Corps contracted for cold-weather leather flight suits lined with moquette, apparently as an economy substitute for sheepskin . Due to its durability, moquette

5180-619: Was an immediate success, reaching the 100 million passenger mark in less than three years on 13 July 1967, and one billion passengers in 1976. Sixteen-car trains were introduced for Expo '70 in Osaka. With an average of 23,000 passengers per hour in each direction in 1992, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen was the world's busiest high-speed rail line. As of 2014, the train's 50th anniversary, daily passenger traffic rose to 391,000 which, spread over its 18-hour schedule, represented an average of just under 22,000 passengers per hour. The first Shinkansen trains,

5254-410: Was completed in 1975. Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was an ardent supporter of the Shinkansen, and his government proposed an extensive network paralleling most existing trunk lines. Two new lines, the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen , were built following this plan. Many other planned lines were delayed or scrapped entirely as JNR slid into debt throughout the late 1970s, largely because of

5328-485: Was delivered to JR Central in April 2007, and trains entered revenue service on 1 July 2007, with eight daily Nozomi service runs. The final Z set, Z80, was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in February 2012. From fiscal 2013, the fleet of Z sets underwent modifications to incorporate some of the improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "X" sets, with cars renumbered in

5402-525: Was delivered to Hakata Depot in February 2012. The 8-car S sets, S1–S19, are formed as follows. Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph. These sets feature a Green car saloon in half of one car (car 6) consisting of 24 seats (6 rows) arranged in 2+2 abreast configuration with 480 mm (19 in) wide seats and a seat pitch of 1,160 mm (46 in). Cars 4 to 8 (including half of car 6) are designated as "reserved seating" cars with 2+2 abreast configuration, 465 mm wide seats and

5476-494: Was not used in revenue service. It was renumbered set X0 in 2014, but the car numbers remained in the -9000 subseries. The set was officially withdrawn from service in February 2019. Withdrawals of N700 series X sets commenced in July 2020, beginning with set X12. The 16-car X sets are formed as follows. Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph. As of 28 January 2023, the JR Central N700 A series fleet

#61938