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| N700 series (JR Central) | |
|---|---|
| Name | N700 series (JR Central) |
| Service | 2007–present |
| Yearconstruction | 2007– |
| Yearservice | 2007 |
| Formation | 16 cars (varies) |
| Operator | Central Japan Railway Company |
| Lines | Tokaido Shinkansen |
| Maxspeed | 300 km/h (revenue), 330 km/h (trial) |
| Traction | Variable frequency drive (IGBT) |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC (dual-voltage in some sets) |
N700 series (JR Central) is a high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by Central Japan Railway Company on the Tokaido Shinkansen corridor. Introduced to improve on the 0 Series Shinkansen and 300 Series Shinkansen designs, the N700 series emphasizes acceleration, tilting capability, and energy efficiency for intercity services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. The fleet incorporates advances in traction, aerodynamics, and passenger comfort to meet the demands of Japan Railways Group operations and integration with service patterns on adjacent networks.
The N700 series was developed jointly by Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, and manufacturers including Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Nippon Sharyo. It was designed for the high-density Tokaido Shinkansen market and later influenced designs on the Sanyo Shinkansen and Kyushu Shinkansen corridors. The type supports mixed operation with earlier sets such as the 700 Series Shinkansen and uses standardized components to streamline maintenance at depots like Shinagawa Depot and Hamamatsu Works.
The N700 series features an active tilting mechanism developed to permit a maximum tilt of approximately one degree, allowing higher speeds through curves on the Tokaido Shinkansen alignment managed by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism regulations. Traction is provided by three-phase AC motors controlled by Insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverters; regenerative braking feeds power back to the overhead catenary system. Carbody construction uses aluminum alloy techniques applied by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi, with nose profiles optimized in wind-tunnel testing by engineers associated with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency collaborators. Bogies use bolsterless designs influenced by earlier work on the 200 Series Shinkansen.
Subclasses include the original N700-0 sets, the N700A refinement ordered by Central Japan Railway Company, and later N700-1000 and N700-2000 variants intended for interoperation with West Japan Railway Company's networks. The N700A introduced diagnostic improvements and enhanced Automatic Train Control integration specified by Japan Railway Technical Research Institute. Some sets were built with minor changes to suit joint operation with West Japan Railway Company's Sanyo Shinkansen timetable and include standardized couplers compatible with 700 Series Shinkansen.
JR Central operates N700 series trains primarily on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, serving major stops including Shinagawa Station, Shizuoka Station, Nagoya Station, and Kyoto Station. Services are scheduled as part of timetable coordination with West Japan Railway Company for through-run services to Hakata on the Sanyo Shinkansen, and seasonal diagrams coordinate with operators at Shin-Kobe Station and Okayama Station. Fleet deployment is managed under JR Central's operations planning to meet demand for events such as the Tokyo Summer events and national holidays overseen by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism advisories.
Passenger accommodations include 2+2 seating in ordinary cars and 2+2 seating with increased pitch in Green Car (first class) arrangements; interior standards follow guidelines from Central Japan Railway Company customer service divisions. Amenities include power outlets provided by vendor specifications, overhead luggage areas reminiscent of fixtures used on E5 Series Shinkansen prototypes, and onboard information displays integrated with JR Central's passenger information systems. Accessibility features comply with standards promoted by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and include spaces for wheelchairs and universal-access toilets.
Safety systems incorporate Automatic Train Control (ATC) variants specific to the Tokaido Shinkansen and Cab signaling equipment linked to line-side transponders managed by Central Japan Railway Company signaling departments. Crashworthiness is based on standards codified by the Japan Transport Safety Board and conforms to practices refined after incidents involving earlier Shinkansen models. Performance metrics include rapid acceleration enabling 2.6 km/h/s in service profiles used in timetabling by operations planners and energy consumption reductions achieved through regenerative braking strategies validated in trials overseen by the Japan Railway Technical Research Institute.
Development began as a cooperative project among JR Central, JR West, and manufacturers following operational lessons from the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake and evolving passenger demand in the early 2000s. Prototype testing occurred on test tracks managed by the Railway Technical Research Institute and included high-speed runs on the Tokaido Shinkansen test sections. Commercial service commenced in 2007 after certification by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, replacing older 300 Series Shinkansen sets and supporting increased frequency on peak timetables coordinated with Japan Railways Group regional planning.
The N700 series has undergone periodic modifications following service evaluations and incidents investigated by the Japan Transport Safety Board. Modifications include retrofits for the N700A standard addressing braking and diagnostic systems specified by JR Central engineering, updates to onboard passenger information systems per directives from Consumer Affairs Agency-influenced accessibility policies, and noise-reduction measures implemented after environmental assessments by local governments in prefectures served by the Tokaido Shinkansen. Major incidents have been rare; incident investigation reports were coordinated with national regulators and resulted in incremental design improvements.
Category:Shinkansen Category:Central Japan Railway Company trains