JAPAN | Railways

[quashlo]

Kiha 181 series Hamakaze retired

These are JNR-era DMUs manufactured between 1968 and 1972. Over the years, they've been used on various services, but their last stronghold has been JR West's Hamakaze limited expresses between Ōsaka and Kasumi (Hyōgo Prefecture), Hamasaka (Hyōgo Prefecture), and Tottori (Tottori Prefecture) via the Tōkaidō Line, San'yō Line, Bantan Line, and San'in Main Line. Last day of regular service was 2010.11.06, replaced by the new Kiha 189 series trains the following day.

First, some classic clips of the trains, particularly the older scenes with the older Amarube Viaduct. This was a famous spot for railfans nestled between the mountains and the ocean, but the red steel viaduct was replaced with a concrete version in August 2010.


Source: ISO8 on YouTube

Another assortment of scenic shots.


Source: TripletSilylene on YouTube

Some clips at Kasumi Station on the San'in Main Line... While technically part of Hyōgo, this is on the opposite coast of Japan from Kōbe, and has a very small-townish / rural flavor.


Source: ayokoi on YouTube

Farewell at Ōsaka, where many fans gathered to catch the last few units in service.


Source: marumayaeetetsudou on YouTube

[quashlo]

Kiha 189 series enters service

New series of trains (21 cars total in seven three-car formations) to replace the now-retired Kiha 181 series on the Hamakaze limited express.

Clips from the first day (2010.11.07) at Ōsaka Station:


Source: panacealand on YouTube

Between Hase and Ikuno on the Bantan Line:


Source: tikyuutekutonikusu on YouTube

Pictures:
Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/

Three-car unit. All seats are regular class.



Lightweight stainless steel body, but ends are steel and borrow from Kiha 122 and Kiha 127 series design to absorb energy in offset collisions. The trains are wide-bodied to secure as much passenger space as possible. Trains can be coupled together, frequently in six-car formations on the Hamakaze services, so the end doors allow for unrestricted passage between the units.



Color is akane-iro (madder red) and designed to match the natural environment along the line, which has a lot of green.



Right door is for staff only.



Interior design incoporates many of the basic barrier-free elements, including multi-function toilet and multi-purpose room. Other amenities include larger LED information displays and electrical outlets for laptops and other electronic devices.



Wheelchair area is designed as a single stand-alone seat.



Pretty standard design for the operator's cab.



Each car is equipped with a diesel engine. The trains are designed to be able to keep up with JR West's "urban network" EMUs on the Ōsaka — Himeji section, and can operate at 130 kph when three or more cars are coupled together.



Lightweight bolsterless bogies, single powered axle.



Sink



Multi-function toilet

[quashlo]

TV programs on the Shinkansen

These are Japanese only, but may still be of interest.

Overview of the E5 series. Goes over the basic design elements, especially the innovations in reducing noise—elongated nose that reduces tunnel boom, pantograph design (single-arm Z-shape, fins) and use of only a single pantograph when running, and the hood between cars. The unit featured is only the pre-production prototype, but cost ¥4.45 billion to produce.


Source: kjq0o0p on YouTube

A thorough tour inside one of the 700 series type Doctor Yellow units, the special test trains that monitor the condition of Shinkansen track and catenary. To measure wear in the overhead wires, the train fires a laser beam (1500 pulses per second), collecting data every 50 cm along the wire. Car 3 has a special observation dome to monitor the condition of the overhead via camera. Data on the rails is collected at 25 cm intervals when traveling at top speed of 270 kph.


Source: kjq0o0p on YouTube

A feature on the tilting mechanism of the N700 series, which helped reduce the travel time between Shin-Ōsaka and Tōkyō by five minutes when first introduced in 2007. Includes a tour of the simulator that was used to test the ride comfort.

[quashlo]

How to make a Shinkansen train

Again, in Japanese only.

A tour of Nippon Sharyō's Toyokawa Plant in Aichi Prefecture, which manufactures a large share of the Shinkansen trains. Because of the small order sizes, automation is costly... Instead, much of the work is done by hand and requires craftsmanship and skill. In this video, the workers are assembling an N700 series unit. In particular, assembling the nose requires manually welding 32 aluminum plates together, but because of warping, the final touches are done by hand with a hammer.


Source: kjq0o0p on YouTube

Hammering out the nose of an E4 series MAX train, one plate at a time.


Source: YAMASHITAKOUGYOUSYO on YouTube

[quashlo]

Originally Posted by foxmulder

Those seats look nice What is the cost?

Fare table is in Post #54.

[SamuraiBlue]

The sheer craftsmanship that is poured into "creating" these machines it just like watching a Ferrari being "created"(not built, "Created").

[dumbfword]

Great update as always! Thank you!

[foxmulder]

Originally Posted by quashlo

Fare table is in Post #54.

opps..

So it is 315$? not that bad actually...

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen scenes: Part 1

A few scenes, mostly from late August and early September, when testing first begin.
First, testing in 2010.08.31.
Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/at0513/

Stopped at Shin-Ōmuta.







Alongside a Kagoshima Main Line train.







Entering Chikugo Funagoya Station after crossing the Yabe River.



Returning to Kumamoto General Car Yard after turning back at Chikugo Funagoya. In the distance is the Ariake Sea.

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen scenes: Part 2

Second, testing on 2010.09.02. On this day, the trains made it as far as Shin-Tosu for the first time.
Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/at0513/

In the distance is Kurume Station, while we are standing on a hill (Asahiyama Park) right next to Shin-Tosu Station (not in frame)... Gives you a new appreciation for just how close these two stations are.



Overhead,a helicopter tracks the progress of the train. On this section, the Shinkansen parallels the conventional line, the Kagoshima Main Line (the truss bridge on the left).



Crossing the Chikugo River...









Shin-Tosu Station. Work is proceeding quickly to complete the conventional line (Nagasaki Main Line) platforms, which cross at a 90-degree angle at ground level.

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen scenes: Part 3

More testing, 2010.08.31:
Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/at0513/

N700-8000 series, R1 unit at Kumamoto General Car Yard.



Departing at 9:00 am for test runs on the mainline.



When it really starts running, the roof will be black as dirt, so best to enjoy it while it's still pristine white.









Climbing up the ramp to viaduct level...

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen scenes: Part 4

Continued:
Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/at0513/

The same ramp.







787 series Relay Tsubame passes by on the side.



Moving to near Kumamoto Station, the test train approaches...





First entry into Kumamoto Station.

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen scenes: Part 5

Continued:
Source: http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/at0513/

Departing Kumamoto Station.





Kumamoto Castle (somewhat blocked by trees) in the background.



Slowly heading off north.



Arriving at Shin-Tamana Station.



After departing Shin-Ōmuta Station...



Arriving at Chikugo Funagoya Station. At 17:15, the train left the station and headed back to Kumamoto Car Yard.



Cruising by at a leisurely 120 kph...

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen: Chikugo Funagoya Station

This station was extremely controversial from the beginning because it's located in the middle of nowhere. The existing station on the Kagoshima Main Line (Funagoya Station) is unmanned and only served by local trains. Daily ridership at the station is barely 400 passengers a day. Right now, they are actually completing a regional park that will surround the station, so there isn't a whole lot of future passenger demand that can be expected either. Regardless, it's now here to stay.

Some pics:
Source: http://ameblo.jp/maimai24/







787 series limited express



This little outfit is the existing Funagoya Station, but will be relocated about 500 m away to Chikugo Funagoya Station when the Shinkansen opens.

[quashlo]

Kyūshū Shinkansen: Hakata Station

This is the terminus of the Kyūshū Shinkansen, located in Fukuoka City. It's already served by San'yō Shinkansen trains to / from Ōsaka, Tōkyō, etc., but JR Kyūshū gave the station a huge facelift and other improvements to accomodate the Kyūshū Shinkansen coming in from the south. The cornerstone of the plan is the Hakata Station tenant building, JR Hakata City, which will be the largest station tenant building in all of Kyūshū and one of Japan's largest, with a floor area of approx. 200,000 sq m (six times the size of the former station tenant building). The building will feature three underground levels and ten aboveground floors.

A few pics:
Source: http://ameblo.jp/maimai24/



This is classic terminal building design in Japan: solid midrise box on a narrow strip adjacent to the platforms, with a large plaza outside for taxis and buses.



The view leaving the station. This is also a hub for JR Kyūshū's zairaisen services and the Fukuoka City Subway.



One of the anchor tenants is Tōkyū Hands, a large nationwide retailer and part of the same group that operates Tōkyū Corporation trains (Tōyoko Line, Den'en Toshi Line, etc.) trains in the Tōkyō-Yokohama area.



Another of the anchor tenants is Hakata Hankyū, the first branch in Kyūshū of a major department store under the Hankyū-Hanshin Tōhō Group, which also counts Kansai private railway operator Hankyū Corporation under its wings. In other words, the largest private railway groups from Kansai and Kantō have both set up shop in the new building.



Clock designed by Mitooka Eiji (this guy has his hands in everything JR Kyūshū!). Diameter is 6 m.

[perdurabo]

from this point of view 787 series looks like TGV

[foxmulder]

Amazing updates quashlo, thanks..

[quashlo]

JR East reveals GranClass seats to press

Hot off the press... We already knew about the special GranClass-only attendant, but they have been keeping a lid on the full details of the GranClass service. Now they've officially revealed all the bells and whistles. According to the railway, the interior design and furnishings of the GranClass car alone cost ¥100 million per car.

Fuji TV news report (2010.11.15):


Source: senna5706 on YouTube


Source: Jiji Press Ltd.

More pictures.
Press conference was held on the afternoon of 2010.11.15 on the 15th floor ("Shinonome") of JR East headquarters in Shinjuku, Tōkyō.
Source: http://rail.hobidas.com/blog/natori/

Mockup:



GranClass-only attendant. The carpet is high-grade wool and reduces outside noise by an additional 2 dB over the green-car seats. Since the seats are in one of the end cars (the one closer to Aomori), you also don't get all the background noise from people passing through to use the restroom, etc.



Seats are shell-type so passengers can recline without bothering the passenger behind them. The fabric is cream-colored genuine leather manufactured by a collaboration of German manufacturer RECARO (known for producing sportscar seats), Hitachi, and JR East. Each seat comes with a cocktail tray in addition to the pull-out dining table, and the two-seat rows feature a small partition in the middle.



Maximum reclining angle is 45°. Just like on airplanes, you can call the special attendant using a call button located in the armrest.



Passengers get a choice of Japanese or Western lunch free with their ticket. The Japanese lunch is a seafood ekiben featuring seafood caught in Aomori and comes in a "Tōkyō" (when departing Aomori) or "Aomori" (when departing Tōkyō) version. The Western lunch also comes in two seasonal types as a spring / summer or autumn / winter meal. The drink menu, which features over ten drinks, is all free, including beer or wine, and is all you can drink.






Passengers also get a free amenity kit containing a pair of slippers, eyemask, and blanket (blanket must be returned, but the other two can be taken home).



JR East pamphlet on the GranClass service (click for larger):



A total of 24 E5 series units will be produced by late FY2012, when 320 kph service will commence. With the new year, JR East will also begin airing TV CMs for the new GranClass.

[chornedsnorkack]

I understand that Gran Class is only installed on Shinkansen E5, which being a 50 Hz device is only good for Tohoku Shinkansen. Does it mean that Green Cars remain the best available on other Shinkansen lines?

[k.k.jetcar]

Originally Posted by chornedsnorkack

I understand that Gran Class is only installed on Shinkansen E5, which being a 50 Hz device is only good for Tohoku Shinkansen. Does it mean that Green Cars remain the best available on other Shinkansen lines?

As far as I know, yes. I think the current Aomori-Tokyo market is not a major business corridor, but more leisure/"going back to hometown" traffic (Tokyo-Sendai or Tokyo-Morioka OTOH has business traffic), so premium seating like this can be viable-note the pricing is aimed to compete with JAL ticket prices on the Aomori-Haneda air route. On the heavily used Tokaido/Sanyo corridor though, with its business traffic, the JR companies likely want to maximize seating to squeeze as much revenue as they can from this market.