| N700S series | |
| Service: | – present |
| Manufacturer: | Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo |
| Designer: | Eiji Mitooka (N700S-8000 series) |
| Family: | Shinkansen |
| Replaced: | 700 series, N700 series |
| Yearconstruction: | 2017 - present |
| Numberconstruction: | JR Central: 19 sets (304 vehicles) |
| Numberservice: | 696 vehicles (46 sets) |
| Formation: | 16 cars per trainset (6 cars per trainset for Nagasaki Shinkansen) |
| Capacity: | Tokaido/Sanyo 16-car sets (J, H): 1,323 (200 Green + 1,123 ordinary) |
| Depots: | Tokyo, Hakata, Osaka, Omura |
| Lines: | Tōkaidō Shinkansen, San'yō Shinkansen, Hakata-Minami Line, Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen |
| Carbody: | Aluminium |
| Carlength: | 25m (82feet) (intermediate cars) 27.35m (89.73feet) (end cars) |
| Width: | 3.36m (11.02feet) |
| Height: | 3.6m (11.8feet), (middle cars and connectors of end cars) (without rooftop equipment) 3.5m (11.5feet) (end cars excluding connector with middle cars) |
| Maxspeed: | 285km/h (Tokaido) 300km/h (Sanyo, Taiwan High Speed Rail) 260km/h (Nishi Kyushu) 205mph (Texas Central) (planned) |
| Electricsystem: | (nominal) from overhead catenary |
| Collectionmethod: | Pantograph |
| Brakes: | Pneumatic, regenerative |
The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability operated by JR Central and JR West on the Tokaido and San'yō Shinkansen lines since 2020, and JR Kyushu on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line since 2022.
In June 2016, JR Central announced plans to build a new prototype "N700S" 16-car trainset (with "S" standing for "Supreme") for evaluating new technology and features on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines from March 2018.[1]
Developed from the earlier N700 series design, the new train incorporates a number of new features. Refinements to the ATC and braking systems enable shorter braking distances in emergencies such as earthquakes. The traction system uses silicon carbide components, and uses 7% less power than the N700A series.[2] Toshiba SCiB LTO batteries are installed so that the train can operate at low speed in the event of a disruption to overhead power, as well as keep toilets in operation.[3]
Optimized underfloor equipment layout allows the same standard design to be used to easily produce 12, 8 and 6-car trainsets in addition to the Tokaido Shinkansen 16-car trainsets. This optimization was intended to make the train more flexible for possible export.[4] [5]
Green cars use active suspension to further improve ride quality, and ordinary-class cars have AC power outlets for each seat.[6] Other features include larger luggage storage, closed-circuit television and "softer, more relaxing" interior lighting.[7] In 2021, the train was awarded the Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club.[8]
In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines would be abolished by Q2 2024.[9]
A 16-car prototype set (J0), assembled at the Nippon Sharyo Toyokawa plant, was unveiled at JR Central's Hamamatsu depot on 10 March 2018.[4] From 20 March, this set was used for testing and evaluation.[4] High-speed trials at the design speed of were conducted during 2019 on the Tokaido Shinkansen, reaching a maximum speed of .[10] This is faster than the fastest speed ever achieved by the N700A, and may indicate plans to raise the maximum operating speed on the line.[11]
The first full-production J set (J1) was delivered to JR Central in April 2020, with trains entering revenue service on 1 July 2020.
JR Central announced in May 2022 that it would add 19 trainsets (304 vehicles) to their current N700S fleet at a cost of 114 billion yen ($897m).[12] The first two of these trainsets are scheduled to enter service in 2023, with seven trainsets delivered in 2024 and 2025, and three more delivered in 2026.
For the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, four 6-car N700S series trainsets were ordered by JR Kyushu.[13] [14] Nicknamed "Kamome", these entered service in September 2022.[15]
On March 15, 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail announced it will purchase 12 new trains consisting of 12 cars each to replace its older THSR 700T sets.[16] These will be manufactured by an alliance of Hitachi and Toshiba.
The first N700S sets replaced 700 series trains, and added more rolling stock needed to realize the increased amount of services on the Tokaido Shinkansen planned from 2020.[17] [18] The N700S series is expected to gradually replace N700 series sets on the Sanyo, Tokaido, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. A 6-car variant started operations on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen on 23 September 2022.[19]
The train is also planned to run on the proposed Texas Central Railway high-speed line connecting Dallas and Houston.[20]
The J sets were the first to be introduced, and include the pre-series J0 set used for testing between 2018 and 2020.
The 16-car J sets are formed as follows.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | M2 | M'w | M1 | M1w | M' | M2k | M1s | M's | M2s | M'h | M1 | M1w | M' | M2w | T'c | |
| Numbering | 743 | 747 | 746-500 | 745 | 745-300 | 746 | 747-400 | 735 | 736 | 737 | 746-700 | 745-600 | 745-500 | 746-200 | 747-500 | 744 | |
| Seating capacity | 65 | 100 | 85 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 75 | 68 | 64 | 68 | 63 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 80 | 75 | |
| Facilities | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room | Telephone | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room | Toilets / telephone | Smoking room | Toilets / multi-purpose room | Telephone | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room / telephone |
, the JR Central N700S series 'J' set fleet is as follows.
| Set No. | Manufacturer | Date delivered | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| J0 | Hitachi/Nippon Sharyo | 25 March 2018 | Pre-series set |
| J1 | Nippon Sharyo | 14 April 2020 | Fiscal 2020 batch |
| J2 | Hitachi | 16 June 2020 | |
| J3 | Nippon Sharyo | 20 May 2020 | |
| J4 | Hitachi | 9 September 2020 | |
| J5 | Nippon Sharyo | 23 June 2020 | |
| J6 | Hitachi | 30 November 2020 | |
| J7 | Nippon Sharyo | 26 August 2020 | |
| J8 | 2 October 2020 | ||
| J9 | 11 November 2020 | ||
| J10 | Hitachi | 11 January 2021 | |
| J11 | Nippon Sharyo | 19 December 2020 | |
| J12 | Hitachi | 23 February 2021 | |
| J13 | Nippon Sharyo | 3 April 2021 | Fiscal 2021 batch |
| J14 | Hitachi | 11 May 2021 | |
| J15 | Nippon Sharyo | 23 May 2021 | |
| J16 | Hitachi | 10 July 2021 | |
| J17 | Nippon Sharyo | 3 July 2021 | |
| J18 | 3 September 2021 | ||
| J19 | 1 October 2021 | ||
| J20 | Hitachi | 1 November 2021 | |
| J21 | Nippon Sharyo | 12 November 2021 | |
| J22 | Hitachi | 14 December 2021 | |
| J23 | Nippon Sharyo | 7 January 2022 | |
| J24 | Hitachi | 1 March 2022 | |
| J25 | Nippon Sharyo | 15 February 2022 | |
| J26 | 1 April 2022 | ||
| J27 | Hitachi | 19 April 2022 | Fiscal 2022 batch |
| J28 | Nippon Sharyo | 20 May 2022 | |
| J29 | Hitachi | 24 June 2022 | |
| J30 | Nippon Sharyo | 8 July 2022 | |
| J31 | 24 August 2022 | ||
| J32 | 4 October 2022 | ||
| J33 | Hitachi | 8 November 2022 | |
| J34 | Nippon Sharyo | 18 November 2022 | |
| J35 | Hitachi | 20 January 2023 | |
| J36 | Nippon Sharyo | 11 January 2023 | |
| J37 | Hitachi | 6 March 2023 | |
| J38 | Nippon Sharyo | 20 February 2023 | |
| J39 | Hitachi | 18 April 2023 | |
| J40 | Nippon Sharyo | 4 April 2023 | |
These are 16-car N700S series sets owned by JR West and classified as N700S-3000 series sets.
The 16-car H sets are formed as follows.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | M2 | M'w | M1 | M1w | M' | M2k | M1s | M's | M2s | M'h | M1 | M1w | M' | M2w | T'c | |
| Numbering | 743-3000 | 747-3000 | 746-3500 | 745-3000 | 745-3300 | 746-3000 | 747-3400 | 735-3000 | 736-3000 | 737-3000 | 746-3700 | 745-3600 | 745-3500 | 746-3200 | 747-3500 | 744-3000 | |
| Seating capacity | 65 | 100 | 85 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 75 | 68 | 64 | 68 | 63 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 80 | 75 | |
| Facilities | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room | Telephone | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room | Toilets / telephone | Smoking room | Toilets / multi-purpose room | Telephone | Toilets | Toilets / smoking room / telephone |
| Set No. | Manufacturer | Date delivered | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 | Hitachi | 3 February 2021 | Fiscal 2020 batch |
| H2 | Nippon Sharyo | 17 March 2021 | |
| H3 | Hitachi | 27 July 2023 | Fiscal 2023 batch |
| H4 |
These are 6-car N700S series sets owned by JR Kyushu and classified as N700S-8000 series sets. Four sets provide service on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.
The design of the variant was done by Eiji Mitooka, who had previously designed several trains for JR Kyushu.[21] He could not make any modifications to the exterior shape or equipment. He sought to make the ride "more fun and relaxing" through the inclusion of colors and shapes to the train's design. He presented JR Kyushu with four livery concepts, with a red and white one being chosen. Headlights were given black outlines and the center of the nose was painted black in order to have the front of the train resemble a face. The interior is also decorated with illustrations made by Mitooka.
These 6-car sets are completely mono-class without Green Car (first class) accommodation. In regular service, cars 1-3 are reserved seat cars, and cars 4-6 are non-reserved seat cars. Seats on cars 1-3 are arranged in four wide (2+2) abreast configuration instead of a five wide (2+3) configuration seen in normal reserved cars of JR West and JR Central N700S variants, and similar to reserved seat cars on JR Kyushu's N700 Series Shinkansen variants. This was done to make the Shinkansen more attractive to tourists.
The 6-car Y sets are formed as follows.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'wc | M2 | M1h | M1 | M2w | M'c | |
| Numbering | 721-8000 | 727-8000 | 725-8000 | 725-8100 | 727-8100 | 722-8100 | |
| Seating Capacity | 40 | 76 | 42 | 86 | 86 | 61 | |
| Facilities | Toilets / multi-purpose room |
| Set No. | Manufacturer | Date delivered | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y1 | Hitachi | 1 June 2022 | Fiscal 2022 batch |
| Y2 | 1 June 2022 | ||
| Y3 | 1 July 2022 | ||
| Y4 | 1 September 2022 |
The annual totals for the fleet sizes (number of vehicles as of 1 April each year) are as follows.
| Year | JR Central | JR West | JR Kyushu | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align = left | 2018 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| align = left | 2019 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| align = left | 2020 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| align = left | 2021 | 208 | 32 | 0 | 240 |
| align = left | 2022 | 432 | 32 | 0 | 464 |
| align = left | 2023 | 608 | 32 | 24 | 664 |
| align = left | Current | 640 | 32 | 24 | 696 |