N700 Series

N700 Series
Name	N700 Series
Service	2007–present
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Family	Shinkansen
Yearconstruction	2005–2016
Yearservice	2007
Numberbuilt	1,000+ (various variants)
Formation	16–16+ (multiple configurations)
Capacity	1,200–1,500 (depending on formation)
Operator	Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company
Lines	Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen, Sanyo Overseas deployment
Maxspeed	300 km/h (service)
Gauge	1,435 mm

N700 Series is a family of high-speed electric multiple unit trains introduced for intercity passenger services on Japanese high-speed lines. Developed through a collaboration of major Japanese rolling-stock manufacturers, the series integrates active tilting, improved aerodynamics, and energy-efficient traction for services operated by three major railway companies. The design balances passenger comfort, operational flexibility, and network compatibility to support intensive timetables on flagship routes.

Design and Development

The design emerged from cooperative programs between Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, and Japan Railways Group strategic planners to replace older Shinkansen fleets. Lead contractors included Hitachi, Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsui, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with system integration by JR Central engineering departments. Key development milestones were formalized after advisory input from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and academic research at University of Tokyo and Kyoto University rail laboratories. Prototype testing took place at the Yokohama Rail Tech Center and on the Tokaido Shinkansen test sections, with aerodynamic studies referencing work by National Railway Industry Association and standards from the International Union of Railways.

Technical Specifications

The traction system uses variable-frequency inverters developed by Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba Corporation with asynchronous motor units supplied by Nippon Sharyo subsidiaries. Carbody structures employ aluminum alloys supplied by Nippon Light Metal Holdings and fabricated by Kinki Sharyo and Hitachi, Ltd. with crashworthiness criteria aligned with guidelines from the Railway Technical Research Institute. Active tilt subsystems incorporate control algorithms influenced by work at Osaka University, while braking systems integrate regenerative units and Knorr-Bremse-style disc assemblies. Passenger amenities include HVAC units from Daikin Industries, seating by JTEKT Corporation partners, and onboard information systems sourced from Fujitsu and NEC Corporation.

Variants and Modifications

Production variants were commissioned by JR Central for long-distance Nozomi services and by JR West for extended Hikari and Kodama duties, with later bespoke sets for JR Kyushu route adaptations. Refurbishment programs included interior upgrades led by design firms associated with Nikken Sekkei and technical retrofits overseen by JAPAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION, TRANSPORT AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY. Export interest prompted collaborative proposals involving China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation consultations and feasibility talks with Transport for New South Wales suppliers. Specialized test units have been developed in partnership with JAXA for aerodynamics and vibration research, and with METI pilot energy-efficiency schemes.

Operational History

Entry into service followed timetable revisions coordinated by JR Central and JR West dispatch offices to increase throughput on the Tokaido Shinkansen corridor. Operational trials encountered scheduling interactions with freight-linked services managed by Japan Freight Railway Company yards and prompted signal interface updates in coordination with the Japan Transport Safety Board. The fleet has been involved in coordinated disaster-response drills with Japan Self-Defense Forces logistics units and municipal emergency planners from Nagoya and Osaka. International delegations from Deutsche Bahn and SNCF have inspected operational practices during exchange programs.

Safety and Performance

Safety certification referenced test protocols from Railway Technical Research Institute and standards promulgated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Performance metrics demonstrated improvements in acceleration compared with predecessors studied by National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and vibration attenuation research published by Keio University. Incident responses have been coordinated with Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and regional transport bureaus; mitigation hardware and software updates were delivered by Hitachi, Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation after regulatory reviews by the Japan Transport Safety Board.

Manufacturing and Production

Major manufacturing centers included Kawasaki Heavy Industries plants in Hyogo Prefecture, Hitachi, Ltd. facilities in Ibaraki Prefecture, and Kinki Sharyo workshops in Osaka Prefecture. Supply-chain coordination involved tier-one suppliers such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and electrical contractors including Toshiba Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric. Workforce training programs were run with support from Japan Railway Technical Service and vocational partnerships with Nagoya University engineering departments. Export discussions engaged the Japan External Trade Organization and private-sector consortia.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

The trains influenced design discourse in exhibitions at the National Museum of Nature and Science and featured in documentaries produced by NHK and engineering profiles in Nikkei Asian Review. Model manufacturers like TOMIX and KATO produced scale replicas, and the fleet's aesthetic informed urban planning studies at Waseda University. Preservation advocates have coordinated with Railway History Museum curators and municipal authorities in Kyoto and Shizuoka to conserve representative vehicles for public display, while international rail operators reference the platform in procurement meetings with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and other transit agencies.

Category:Shinkansen trains