JAPAN | High Speed Rail

***hkskyline*** · June 24th, 2005, 07:30 AM

JR East unveils 360-kph bullet train, world's fastest
23 June 2005
Kyodo News

East Japan Railway Company's next-generation bullet train, which is hoped to achieve the world's fastest speed of 360km per hour (224 mph) in commercial service on wheels, is unveiled in Rifu town, northern Japan, June 24, 2005. The company aims to put the new train into service in 2011, local media reports.

East Japan Railway Co. on Friday unveiled a new shinkansen bullet train in the town of Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture that will operate at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour, possibly the world's fastest.

The two ends of the jade-colored, eight-car test train named Fastech look different. The first car has a rounded end, while the eighth car has a narrow, sharper end.

The train is equipped with a braking mechanism that adjusts air resistance in the event of an earthquake or other emergencies using a half-moon device descending from the roof of the train.

Each car has only one pantograph to reduce noise, down from the two on bullet trains now in operation.

The test runs between the Miyagi capital of Sendai and Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, will be conducted at a maximum speed of 405 kph.

JR East aims to put the new train into service in 2011, when the Tohoku Shinkansen Line will begin service between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori stations in Aomori Prefecture.

JR East said it also plans to conduct environmental assessment and other studies to develop cars suitable for operating at 360 kph on a commercial basis.

pflo777 · June 24th, 2005, 09:08 AM

so they need to build new tracks, or is an upgrade of the old high speed track enough?

nikko · June 24th, 2005, 12:58 PM

What are those orange things?

makes the train look like Mickey Mouse. . .

coldstar · June 24th, 2005, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikko

What are those orange things?

makes the train look like Mickey Mouse. . .

Yup, those are called 'cats' ears' among the railway freaks. They are actually air resistance boards. When Shinakansen slacks up its speed to stop, those boards open from the roof automatically.

odegaard · June 25th, 2005, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldstar

Yup, those are called 'cats' ears' among the railway freaks. They are actually air resistance boards. When Shinakansen slacks up its speed to stop, those boards open from the roof automatically.

I never knew such things existed. But I think it looks cute.

I assume those "cat ears" are raised slowly when the train needs to slow down. Popping those things up quickly while the train is at high speeds would probably cause a sudden and hard jerk.

just a guess?

Thelème · June 24th, 2005, 01:23 PM

beautiful trains! more pics pleaseeeeeeeee

coldstar · June 24th, 2005, 01:34 PM

Shinkansen Fastec series (regular operation speed 360 km/h, max speed 405 km/h) has two faces.
Stream line type and Arrow line type

from the left,
Shinkansen E4 series (full double decker), Shinakansen 700 series, Shinkansen Fastec series Stream line type, Fastec series Arrow line type, Shinkansen E2 series, and Shinkansen 500 series.

Yappofloyd · June 24th, 2005, 02:46 PM

This JR East Fastech train looks amazing especially with the pop up 'mini-sail' to assist in slowing down. I guess by 2015 JR will have trains running at near 400 kph or probably by the time the Shin-Amori to Hokkaido Island section gets the go ahead and is perhaps finished by 2020???

Bitxofo · June 24th, 2005, 09:56 PM

Beautiful trains...

Domo arigato, Nippo!!

sequoias · June 25th, 2005, 12:05 AM

I think the "cat ears" it won't be enough to stop the train fast, the train is heavy and goes very fast. How can those stop the train with over 1.7 million pounds of force.
It's a prototype train, I believe...

Anekdote · June 25th, 2005, 12:12 AM

wow the Shinkansen 500 train looks like a needle

Vapour · June 25th, 2005, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sequoias

I think the "cat ears" it won't be enough to stop the train fast, the train is heavy and goes very fast. How can those stop the train with over 1.7 million pounds of force.
It's a prototype train, I believe...

Obviously the "cat ears" are not meant to stop the train by themselves but to help in reducing speed.

coldstar · June 25th, 2005, 04:13 PM

Tonight JR East has begun the Fastech's test run at a speed of 405 kph!!

PredyGr · June 25th, 2005, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldstar

Tonight JR East has begun the Fastech's test run at a speed of 405 kph!!

Are you sure about that ? I was expecting to reach this speed at a period beyond 5 months, raising the speed steadily.

coldstar · June 25th, 2005, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vapour

Obviously the "cat ears" are not meant to stop the train by themselves but to help in reducing speed.

exactly.
There're 12 cat ears on a train, and those sectoral boards open rotarily to shorten braking distance.

demanjo · June 25th, 2005, 08:01 AM

sequoias - im sure it would be quite a long process, and not designed to be a 30 second thing.

heirloom · June 26th, 2005, 07:52 AM

the cat ears make the train look kinda dumpy, as does its rear end. i like the duck face of the shinkansen 700 though

CharlieP · June 26th, 2005, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heirloom

the cat ears make the train look kinda dumpy, as does its rear end.

That's a bit like saying that escape chutes make an airliner look saggy, or that fully-deployed airbags make the inside of a car look a bit cramped! The only time you're going to see the cat ears is in an emergency (or, as in the picture, in testing)...

heirloom · June 26th, 2005, 04:30 PM

oh ok.. i didnt read carefully

empersouf · June 26th, 2005, 05:14 PM

The second one si cool, but the first one is ugly.

June 24th, 2005, 07:30 AM	#1
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 71,053 Likes (Received): 838	JR East Unveils 360 km/h Bullet Train JR East unveils 360-kph bullet train, world's fastest 23 June 2005 Kyodo News East Japan Railway Company's next-generation bullet train, which is hoped to achieve the world's fastest speed of 360km per hour (224 mph) in commercial service on wheels, is unveiled in Rifu town, northern Japan, June 24, 2005. The company aims to put the new train into service in 2011, local media reports. East Japan Railway Co. on Friday unveiled a new shinkansen bullet train in the town of Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture that will operate at a speed of 360 kilometers per hour, possibly the world's fastest. The two ends of the jade-colored, eight-car test train named Fastech look different. The first car has a rounded end, while the eighth car has a narrow, sharper end. The train is equipped with a braking mechanism that adjusts air resistance in the event of an earthquake or other emergencies using a half-moon device descending from the roof of the train. Each car has only one pantograph to reduce noise, down from the two on bullet trains now in operation. The test runs between the Miyagi capital of Sendai and Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, will be conducted at a maximum speed of 405 kph. JR East aims to put the new train into service in 2011, when the Tohoku Shinkansen Line will begin service between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori stations in Aomori Prefecture. JR East said it also plans to conduct environmental assessment and other studies to develop cars suitable for operating at 360 kph on a commercial basis. __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| London \| Egypt \| Dubai \| Shanghai \| Xian \| Tokyo \| Kyoto \| Prague Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Iceland, Sydney, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, and much more!

June 24th, 2005, 12:58 PM	#3
nikko Registered Yooser Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,492 Likes (Received): 1	What are those orange things? makes the train look like Mickey Mouse. . . __________________ See whats happening in BRISBANE!

June 24th, 2005, 01:23 PM	#6
Thelème European citizen Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Roma Posts: 4,119 Likes (Received): 15	beautiful trains! more pics pleaseeeeeeeee __________________ *Thelème* www.metroxroma.it Variazioni sul Tema Le mie foto su Flickr

June 24th, 2005, 01:34 PM	#7
coldstar Tears of Buddha Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 東京 Posts: 1,450 Likes (Received): 1	Shinkansen Fastec series (regular operation speed 360 km/h, max speed 405 km/h) has two faces. Stream line type and Arrow line type from the left, Shinkansen E4 series (full double decker), Shinakansen 700 series, Shinkansen Fastec series Stream line type, Fastec series Arrow line type, Shinkansen E2 series, and Shinkansen 500 series. __________________ Hiroshima to Fukushima The Sun Rises Again. We never give up!

June 25th, 2005, 04:13 PM	#13
coldstar Tears of Buddha Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: 東京 Posts: 1,450 Likes (Received): 1	Tonight JR East has begun the Fastech's test run at a speed of 405 kph!! __________________ Hiroshima to Fukushima The Sun Rises Again. We never give up!

June 24th, 2005, 09:08 AM	#2
pflo777 BANNED Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 1,508 Likes (Received): 11	so they need to build new tracks, or is an upgrade of the old high speed track enough?

June 24th, 2005, 02:46 PM	#8
Yappofloyd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangkok & Melbourne Posts: 852 Likes (Received): 1	This JR East Fastech train looks amazing especially with the pop up 'mini-sail' to assist in slowing down. I guess by 2015 JR will have trains running at near 400 kph or probably by the time the Shin-Amori to Hokkaido Island section gets the go ahead and is perhaps finished by 2020???

June 24th, 2005, 09:56 PM	#9
Bitxofo BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Alderaan BCN BKK ATH PAR LON SYD SFO CPT TYO SCL CHC BUE SCG SVQ AGP BDN Posts: 34,113 Likes (Received): 0	Beautiful trains... Domo arigato, Nippo!!

June 25th, 2005, 12:05 AM	#10
sequoias Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Midwest US Posts: 1,601 Likes (Received): 0	I think the "cat ears" it won't be enough to stop the train fast, the train is heavy and goes very fast. How can those stop the train with over 1.7 million pounds of force. It's a prototype train, I believe...

June 25th, 2005, 12:12 AM	#11
Anekdote Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,083 Likes (Received): 6	wow the Shinkansen 500 train looks like a needle

June 25th, 2005, 08:01 AM	#16
demanjo Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New South Wales Posts: 557 Likes (Received): 0	sequoias - im sure it would be quite a long process, and not designed to be a 30 second thing. __________________ New South Welsh independence! (Victoria can come too)

June 26th, 2005, 07:52 AM	#17
heirloom Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 6,158 Likes (Received): 0	the cat ears make the train look kinda dumpy, as does its rear end. i like the duck face of the shinkansen 700 though

June 26th, 2005, 04:30 PM	#19
heirloom Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 6,158 Likes (Received): 0	oh ok.. i didnt read carefully

June 26th, 2005, 05:14 PM	#20
empersouf Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,230 Likes (Received): 1	The second one si cool, but the first one is ugly.

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