From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

500 Series Shinkansen
500 series on Nozomi service, May 2008
In service	1997 - Present
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki HI
Refurbishment	2008
Number built	144 (9 sets)
Formation	8/16 cars per trainset
Capacity	16-car W set 1,324 (200 Green + 1,124 Standard) 8-car V set 635
Operator	JR West
Depot(s)	Hakata
Line(s) served	Tōkaidō Shinkansen, Sanyō Shinkansen
Specifications
Car length	25,000 mm (intermediate cars), 27,000 mm (end cars)
Width	3,380 mm
Height	3,690 mm
Maximum speed	W set: 270 km/h (Tōkaidō), 300 km/h (Sanyō) V set: 285 km/h (Sanyō)
Acceleration	1.6 km/h/s (Tōkaidō), 2.0 km/h/s (Sanyō)
Deceleration	2.7 km/h/s
Traction system	(AC) WMT204 64 x 285 kW
Power output	18.24 MW(W1 set), 17.60 MW(from W2 set)
Voltage	25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead
Gauge	1,435 mm

500 series standard-class interior, August 2005

The 500 Series Shinkansen are the fastest, most powerful and most expensive trainsets yet to run on Japan's Shinkansen high-speed rail network. They are designed to be capable of 320 km/h (200 mph) although they operate at a maximum of 300 km/h (186 mph) in service. The running gear utilises computer-controlled active suspension for a smoother, safer ride. All sixteen cars in each train are powered, giving a maximum of 18.24 MW of power (25,000 hp). Each train costs an estimated ¥5 billion. Because of that pricetag, only nine were built.

Visually they are quite striking, with a long, pointed nose more like that of a supersonic plane than a conventional high speed train. In 1990, Hitachi commissioned Neumeister Design of Germany to create an exterior and interior design for a new Shinkansen. It became the basis for the development of the 500 Series.

The first set was delivered for testing in 1995, entering passenger service in March 1997. The entire fleet of nine sets was delivered by 1998. They are normally used only on the premium Nozomi services, but are also used on Hikari Rail Star services during the busy holiday periods.

Fighter-jet styling of the nosecone of a 500 series

[edit] Reassignment

With the steady increase in the number of N700 Series Shinkansen assigned to Nozomi services, the 500 series fleet was limited to just two return workings between Tokyo and Hakata from the start of the 15 March 2008 timetable. Five of the nine sets will be shortened to 8 cars during 2008 and cascaded to Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama workings, replacing the earlier 0 series sets.^[1] The first reformed 8-car set was unveiled to the press on 28 March 2008. All passenger saloons have been made no-smoking, with new smoking compartments installed.^[2] The maximum operating speed of the reformed trains has been reduced to 285 km/h.^[3]

The first 8-car 500 series trains entered service on twelve daily Kodama runs from December 1-2, 2008, shortly after the 0 Series trains were withdrawn.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Neumeister + Partner

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: 500 Series Shinkansen

v • d • e Shinkansen Lines: Tōkaidō • Sanyō • Tōhoku • Jōetsu • Hokuriku • Kyūshū Mini-Shinkansen: Yamagata • Akita • Future lines: Chūō • Hokkaidō • Cancelled lines: Narita Trainsets: 0 Series • 100 Series • 200 Series • 300 Series • 400 Series • 500 Series • 700 Series • N700 Series • 800 Series • E1 Series • E2 Series • E3 Series • E4 Series • E5 Series Export trainsets: 700T Series • CRH2 • Experimental trainsets: Fastech 360 Maglev trainsets: MLX-01

This Japanese railway-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.