25.00 m (82 ft 0 in) (intermediate cars) 27.35 m (89 ft 9 in) (end cars)
Width
3.36 m (11 ft 0 in)
Height
3.60 m (11 ft 10 in), (middle cars and connectors of end cars) (without rooftop equipment)
3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) (end cars excluding connector with middle cars)
Maximum speed
285 km/h (177 mph) (Tokaido) 300 km/h (186 mph) (Sanyo, Taiwan High Speed Rail) 260 km/h (162 mph) (Nishi Kyushu) 205 mph (330 km/h) (Texas Central) (planned)
In June 2016, JR Central announced plans to build a new prototype "N700S" 16-car trainset (with "S" standing for "Supreme") for evaluating new technology and features on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines from March 2018.[1]
Developed from the earlier N700 series design, the new train incorporates a number of new features. Refinements to the ATC and braking systems enable shorter braking distances in emergencies such as earthquakes.[1] The traction system uses silicon carbide components, and uses 7% less power than the N700A series.[2]Toshiba SCiB LTO batteries are installed so that the train can operate at low speed in the event of a disruption to overhead power, as well as keep toilets in operation.[3]
Optimized underfloor equipment layout allows the same standard design to be used to easily produce 12, 8 and 6-car trainsets in addition to the Tokaido Shinkansen 16-car trainsets.[1] This optimization was intended to make the train more flexible for possible export.[4][5]
Green cars use active suspension to further improve ride quality, and ordinary-class cars have AC power outlets for each seat.[1][6] Other features include larger luggage storage, closed-circuit television and "softer, more relaxing" interior lighting.[7] In 2021, the train was awarded the Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club.[8]
Future plans
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 lines would be abolished by Q2 2024.[9]
JR Central
A 16-car prototype set (J0), assembled at the Nippon Sharyo Toyokawa plant, was unveiled at JR Central's Hamamatsu depot on 10 March 2018.[4] From 20 March, this set was used for testing and evaluation.[4] High-speed trials at the design speed of 360 km/h (224 mph) were conducted during 2019 on the Tokaido Shinkansen, reaching a maximum speed of 363 km/h (226 mph).[10] This is 28 km/h (17 mph) faster than the fastest speed ever achieved by the N700A, and may indicate plans to raise the maximum operating speed on the line.[11]
The first full-production J set (J1) was delivered to JR Central in April 2020, with trains entering revenue service on 1 July 2020.[6]
JR Central announced in May 2022 that it would add 19 trainsets (304 vehicles) to their current N700S fleet at a cost of 114 billion yen ($897m).[12][2] The first two of these trainsets are scheduled to enter service in 2023, with seven trainsets delivered in 2024 and 2025, and three more delivered in 2026.[2]
On March 15, 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail announced it will purchase 12 new trains consisting of 12 cars each to replace its older THSR 700T sets.[17] These will be manufactured by an alliance of Hitachi and Toshiba.[17]
Operations
The first N700S sets replaced 700 series trains, and added more rolling stock needed to realize the increased amount of services on the Tokaido Shinkansen planned from 2020.[18][19] The N700S series is expected to gradually replace N700 series sets on the Sanyo, Tokaido, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. A 6-car variant started operations on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen on 23 September 2022.[16][15]
The train is also planned to run on the proposed Texas Central Railway high-speed line connecting Dallas and Houston.[20]
Variants
N700S series: 12 x 16-car "J" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from 1 July 2020
N700S-3000 series: 3 x 16-car "H" sets owned by JR West, introduced from 13 March 2021
N700S-8000 series "Kamome": 4 x 6-car "Y" sets owned by JR Kyushu on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, introduced from 23 September 2022[16]
16-car J sets
The J sets were the first to be introduced, and include the pre-series J0 set used for testing between 2018 and 2020.
N700S-8000 series set Y4 on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen in October 2022
These are 6-car N700S series sets owned by JR Kyushu and classified as N700S-8000 series sets. Four sets provide service on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.
The design of the variant was done by Eiji Mitooka, who had previously designed several trains for JR Kyushu.[21] He could not make any modifications to the exterior shape or equipment. He sought to make the ride "more fun and relaxing" through the inclusion of colors and shapes to the train's design. He presented JR Kyushu with four livery concepts, with a red and white one being chosen. Headlights were given black outlines and the center of the nose was painted black in order to have the front of the train resemble a face. The interior is also decorated with illustrations made by Mitooka.
These 6-car sets are completely mono-class without Green Car (first class) accommodation. In regular service, cars 1-3 are reserved seat cars, and cars 4-6 are non-reserved seat cars. Seats on cars 1-3 are arranged in four wide (2+2) abreast configuration instead of a five wide (2+3) configuration seen in normal reserved cars of JR West and JR Central N700S variants, and similar to reserved seat cars on JR Kyushu's N700 Series Shinkansen variants. This was done to make the Shinkansen more attractive to tourists.[21]
^ abcd次期新幹線車両「N700S」を新造、JR東海 [JR Central to build "N700S" next-generation shinkansen train]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). Japan: Asahi Interactive Inc. 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
^Kinoshita, Kenji (17 October 2023). "東海道・山陽・九州新幹線の車内喫煙ルーム、2024年春にすべて廃止" [All smoking rooms on Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains will be abolished in spring 2024.]. MyNavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
^"JR東海，「N700S」を2023年度から2026年度にかけて19編成導入" [JR Central introduces 19 trains of "N700S" from 2023 to 2026]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 28 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
^九州新幹線（武雄温泉・長崎間）新幹線の名称と導入車両が決定！！ [The name of the Kyushu Shinkansen (between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki) and cars to be introduced are decided!!] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^長崎新幹線、名前は「かもめ」 特急は「リレーかもめ」 [Nagasaki Shinkansen, named "Kamome" Limited Express is "Relay Kamome"]. Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). 28 October 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
^ abMegumi, Nojito (24 September 2022). "何が起きた？西九州新幹線｢開業初日｣の一部始終" [What happened? The story of the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen's first day of service]. Toyo Keizai Online (in Japanese). Retrieved 29 September 2022.
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