In service 2007–Present | Constructed 2005– | |
 | ||
Manufacturer Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo Replaced 300 series, 500 series, 700 series Number in service 2,304 vehicles (159 sets) (as of 30 June 2016) Number scrapped 1 vehicle (fire damage) | ||
The N700 series (N700系, Enu nanahyaku-kei) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR-West for use on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines since 2007, and also operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.
Contents
- Operations
- Variants
- 16 car Z sets
- Formation
- Fleet list
- 16 car G sets N700 1000 series N700A
- Interior
- 16 car X sets N700 2000 series N700A
- 16 car N sets N700 3000 series
- 16 car F sets N700 4000 series N700A
- 16 car K sets N700 5000 series N700A
- 8 car S sets N700 7000 series
- 8 car R sets N700 8000 series
- N700S
- N700 I Bullet
- High speed trials
- Fire damage and replacement
- Overall fleet history
- References
N700 series trains have a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), and tilting of up to one degree allows the trains to maintain 270 km/h (168 mph) even on 2,500 m (8,200 ft) radius curves that previously had a maximum speed of 255 km/h (158 mph). Another feature of the N700 is that it accelerates quicker than other shinkansen trains, with a maximum acceleration rate of 2.6 km/h/s. This enables it to reach 270 km/h (170 mph) in only three minutes. Because of these improvements, trains can travel between Tokyo and Osaka on a Nozomi run in as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes on a fastest service. (8 minutes faster than before).
Operations
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 the full route between Tokyo and Hakata) were scheduled to use the N700 series exclusively by 2009. By 2011, all regularly scheduled Nozomi services, including runs limited only to the Tokaido Shinkansen, were operated by the N700 series.
The N700 is also used on select Hikari services during the day, as well as some early-morning and late-night Kodama runs between Tokyo and Mishima/Hamamatsu.
Since March 2009, the N700 series trains have been equipped with wireless internet available for use between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.
Variants
16-car Z sets
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 Ltd., 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) 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 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 last original "Z" set, set Z4, was modified to become set X4 in August 2015.
The prototype set Z0 is used as a JR Central test train with cars numbered in the -9000 series, and is not used in revenue service. It was renumbered set X0 in 2014, but the car numbers remain in the -9000 subseries.
Formation
The 16-car Z sets, Z0–Z80, were formed as follows.
Cars 5 and 12 each had one single-arm pantograph.
Fleet list
For details of manufacturers and delivery details of the converted former Z sets, refer to the "16-car X sets (N700-2000 series "700A")" section below.
16-car G sets (N700-1000 series "N700A")
The N700-1000 series, or "N700A" (with "A" standing for "Advanced"), 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 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.
Formation
The 16-car G sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Shin-Osaka (western) end and car 16 at the Tokyo (eastern) end.
Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
Internally, seats have new moquette seat covers, and LED lighting is used in toilets and washing areas.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the N700A series G set fleet is as follows.
16-car X sets (N700-2000 series "N700A")
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. The sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos.
Formation
The 16-car X sets are formed as follows.
Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the JR Central N700A series fleet is as follows.
16-car N sets (N700-3000 series)
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 the later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "K" sets, with cars renumbered in the -5000 subseries.
Formation
The 16-car N sets were formed as follows.
Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Fleet list
For details of manufacturers and delivery details of the converted former N sets, refer to the "16-car K sets (N700-5000 series "700A")" section below.
16-car F sets (N700-4000 series "N700A")
These are N700A series sets owned by JR-West and classified N700-4000 series, with one set delivered in November 2013 and entering revenue service from 8 February 2014. A further four sets are scheduled to be delivered in fiscal 2016, followed by three in fiscal 2017, six in fiscal 2018, and six in fiscal 2019.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the JR-West N700A series fleet is as follows.
16-car K sets (N700-5000 series "N700A")
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.
Formation
The 16-car K sets are formed as follows.
Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the JR-West N700A series fleet is as follows.
8-car S sets (N700-7000 series)
The N700-7000 series variant are 8-car sets operated by JR-West on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on 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, was delivered to Hakata Depot in February 2012.
Formation
The 8-car S sets, S1–S19, are formed as follows.
Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
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 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.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the fleet consists of 19 sets, all based at Hakata Shinkansen Depot.
8-car R sets (N700-8000 series)
The N700-8000 series variant consists of ten 8-car 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 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.
Formation
The 8-car R sets are formed as follows.
Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
As with the JR-West N700-7000 series sets, the R 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. 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.
Fleet list
As of 1 April 2016, the fleet consists of 11 sets, all based at Kumamoto Shinkansen Depot.
N700S
In June 2016, JR Central announced plans to build a new prototype "N700S" 16-car trainset for evaluating new technology and features on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines from March 2018. developed from the earlier N700 series design, the new train will incorporate a number of new features. Refinements to the ATC and braking systems will enable shorter braking distances in emergencies such as earthquakes. Optimized underfloor equipment layout will allow the same standard design to be used to produce 12-car and 8-car trainsets in the future in addition to the Tokaido Shinkansen 16-car trainsets. Green cars will use active suspension to further improve ride quality, and ordinary-class cars will have AC power outlets for each seat.
A 16-car trainset is scheduled to be delivered in March 2018 for testing and evaluation on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines, with full-production trains expected to enter service from fiscal 2020.
N700-I Bullet
This was a proposed export version of the N700 series design announced by JR Central Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai at an international high-speed railway symposium held in Nagoya on 16 November 2009. Nominally specified as an 8-car set with a maximum operating speed of 330 km/h (205 mph), the train can be configured in lengths from 6 to 16 cars to suit customer requirements.
High-speed trials
On 16 November 2009, JR Central conducted a late-night high-speed demonstration run using N700 series trainset Z0, recording a maximum speed of 332 km/h (206 mph) on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Maibara and Kyoto. The high-speed run was conducted as a demonstration for approximately 160 international guests attending a high-speed railway symposium in Nagoya.
Fire damage and replacement
Car 783-2059 (car 1) of JR Central set X59 was scrapped due to fire damage sustained in an arson attack occurring on 30 June 2015. A replacement car with the same running number was built by Nippon Sharyo in 2016.
Overall fleet history
The annual totals for the fleet sizes (number of vehicles as of 1 April each year) owned by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu are as follows.