800 Series Shinkansen Explained

800 series
Service: – present
Manufacturer:Hitachi
Numberbuilt:54 vehicles (9 sets)
Numberservice:48 vehicles (8 sets)
Numberscrapped:6 vehicles (set U005, earthquake damage)
Formation:6 cars per trainset
Fleetnumbers:U001 - U009
Capacity:Original sets: 392 (Standard class only), New sets: 384
Operator:JR Kyushu
Depots:Kumamoto
Lines:Kyushu Shinkansen
Carbody:Aluminium
Carlength:25m (82feet) (intermediate cars)
27.35m (89.73feet) (end cars)
Width:3380mm
Height:3650mm
Maxspeed:260km/h
Acceleration:2.5km/h/s
Electricsystem:25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary
Collectionmethod:Pantograph
Safety:KS-ATC
Designer:Eiji Mitooka

The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) on the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line. Built by Hitachi, the trains were introduced on the all-stops Tsubame services from March 2004.

The 800 series has a maximum speed of 2600NaN0 in service, although its maximum design speed is 285km/h. It was one of the two recipients of the 45th Laurel Prize awarded by the Japan Railfan Club in 2005.

It abandoned the 700's "duckbill" nose in favor of a sharper nose. The livery is white, with a red stripe.

Following the opening of the entire Kyushu Shinkansen route on 12 March 2011, 800 series trains were primarily used on all-stations Tsubame services operating mostly between and . They also operate some Sakura services within the Kyushu Shinkansen.[1]

Formation

Car No.123456
DesignationMscMpM2wM2MpwMc
Numbering821826827827-100826-100822-100
Seating capacity4680726656

Cars 2 and 5 are equipped with PS207K single-arm pantographs.[2]

Build history

Set numberDate deliveredWithdrawn
U00130 August 2003
U00216 September 2003
U0036 October 2003
U00411 December 2003
U00528 December 200316 March 2018
U00618 July 2005

The first set, set U001, was delivered on 30 August 2003 (approximately seven months ahead of the opening of the Kyushu Shinkansen between and), with the last set, set U006, being delivered on 18 July 2005. Set U005 was withdrawn on 16 March 2018 following damage sustained from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes' 14 April foreshock.

Interior

As the Kyushu Shinkansen runs a large portion in tunnels, designers paid special attention to the interior design of the 800 series to create a more pleasant travel experience. More traditional materials and design features are used to embody Kyushu's warm and natural environment.

Persimmon tannin colour is used for the walls, ancient lacquer for the doors, and Kyushu traditional rope curtain from Yatsushiroigusa for the lavatory are used. The seats are made of wood versus metal/plastic combinations from previous trains and the cushions are produced using Nishijin textiles. Window curtains are produced from prunus serrulata,[3] and interior flooring is also made of wood.[4]

Seating is four abreast (2 by 2), with wheelchair-accessible seating and lavatory facilities in two of the six cars.

New 800 series

JR Kyushu announced in December 2008 that three new 800 series sets would be delivered between summer 2009 and autumn 2010, ahead of the completion of the entire Kyushu Shinkansen route between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chūō in 2011.[5] The first of the new batch, set U007, was delivered in June 2009,[6] and entered service on 22 August 2009.[7] Externally, the new sets feature minor livery changes regarding the red stripe, and internally, each car features different colour seat covers.[8] Sets U007 and U009 include track condition monitoring equipment and are numbered in the 800–1000 series, while set U008 features overhead wire and signal monitoring equipment and is numbered in the 800–2000 series.[9]

Formation

Car No.123456
DesignationMscMpM2wM2MpwMc
Numbering821-1000826-1000827-1000827-1100826-1100822-1100
Seating capacity468072725856

Cars 2 and 5 are equipped with PS207K single-arm pantographs.[2]

Build history

Set numberDate deliveredRemarks
U0078 August 2009-
U00819 March 2010Cars numbered 8xx-2xxx
U00924 November 2010-

Interior

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. ja:平成23年春ダイヤ改正 . Spring 2011 timetable revision . http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f2f9ef466d20f836492577fc002daa73?OpenDocument . JR Kyushu . 17 December 2010 . 2010-12-20 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101220024229/http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/f2f9ef466d20f836492577fc002daa73?OpenDocument . 20 December 2010 .
  2. Book: ja: JR電車編成表 2012夏 . JR EMU Formations - Summer 2012. JRR. May 2012. Japan. 978-4-330-28612-9.
  3. Book: ja: ぼくは「つばめ」のデザイナー 九州新幹線800系 誕生物語. Kodansha. 2004. Japan. 71 . 4-06-212532-3 .
  4. http://jida-dm.syncline.jp/DMHP/2005/item47.html "懐九州新幹線つばめ / 800系新幹線電車"
  5. http://www13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/9dd28b8cb8f46cee49256a7d0030d2e6/e6556c9965498060492575220057f939?OpenDocument "懐かしくて新しいインターナショナルな新800系の誕生" (17 December 2008)
  6. [Japan Railfan Magazine]
  7. [Japan Railfan Magazine]
  8. Rail Magazine: "新800系第1編成が完成。" (2 August 2009) . Retrieved on 5 August 2009
  9. ja: 新800系登場 (New 800 series). Japan Railfan Magazine. 49. 582 . 75–81. Koyusha. Japan. October 2009 .