Shinkansen Series 700

Shinkansen Series 700
Mitsuki-2368 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Shinkansen Series 700
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo
Yearservice	1999
Formation	8/16 cars
Operator	Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company
Lines	Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen

Shinkansen Series 700 The Shinkansen Series 700 is a Japanese high-speed train introduced in 1999 for use on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen corridors. Developed jointly by Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company, the type served as a successor to earlier types and a contemporary of later models, operating alongside fleets such as the Shinkansen Series 500 and Shinkansen Series N700. The 700 series combined aerodynamic styling, electrical innovations, and multiple formation options to serve express services linking Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hakata.

Design and Development

Design work began as a response to increasing demand on the Tokaido Shinkansen and the need to replace aging Shinkansen Series 0 sets and augment services related to events such as the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano Prefecture. Manufacturer collaboration included Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Hitachi, and Nippon Sharyo, coordinated with rolling stock planners at Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company. Styling cues referenced research from the National Railway Research Institute and aerodynamic studies influenced by wind tunnel testing used for projects like the JR Hokkaido experimental units. Electrical systems incorporated technology from the Series 300 and lessons from the Series 500, while interior planning addressed standards set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and accessibility guidelines promoted by Japanese Industrial Standards.

Technical Specifications

The 700 series used an aluminum alloy carbody derived from construction practices similar to those used by Nippon Sharyo for commuter EMUs and long-range designs used by JR East. The nose profile reflected aerodynamic research comparable to that used on the Shinkansen Series 300 and Series 500, optimizing pressure waves in tunnels such as those on the Seikan Tunnel. Traction equipment included three-phase AC motors and inverter technology related to developments at companies like Mitsubishi Electric and Toshiba Corporation. Braking systems combined regenerative braking with disc brakes, echoing systems used on JR Freight locomotives and corridor EMUs. Safety systems were compatible with the ATC-1 family and later adaptations for DS-ATC in certain regions, integrating signaling practices common to the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen.

Variants and Formations

Sets were produced in multiple configurations: 16-car formations for premier services and 8-car sets for shorter or branch services, paralleling fleet strategies of Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company. Designations distinguished between JR Central and JR West allocations, similar to the allocation patterns for the Shinkansen Series 100 and Series 300 fleets. Interior class arrangements included Green Car and Ordinary seating, drawing on service patterns seen on the Tokaido Shinkansen and luxury initiatives linked to operators such as JR Kyushu for other series. Maintenance depots for these formations included facilities in Nagoya, Shin-Osaka, and Hakata.

Service History

Entry into revenue service occurred in 1999 on services linking Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, complementing Nozomi and Hikari service patterns developed by Central Japan Railway Company. The 700 series was deployed during major travel surges associated with events such as the World Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture and routine seasonal peaks coinciding with Golden Week and New Year travel through Kyoto and Osaka. Over time, newer models like the Shinkansen Series N700 prompted redeployment and cascading, as had happened historically when Series 500 sets gave way to newer fleets. Withdrawals and refurbishments followed timetables coordinated between JR Central and JR West.

Operations and Routes

Primary operations focused on long-distance high-speed services on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen corridors, connecting major urban centers including Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Hakata. Some formations occasionally ran coupled or decoupled to serve shorter runs and to integrate with timetable patterns used by express services similar to Kodama and Hikari. Compatibility with line electrification and platform lengths mirrored infrastructure standards maintained by entities such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and regional transport bureaus in Osaka Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture.

Accidents and Incidents

Throughout its service life, certain sets were involved in incidents ranging from minor collisions with track obstructions to weather-related operational disruptions caused by events like typhoons impacting lines serving Shikoku-adjacent coastal routes and mainland sections. Investigations into incidents referenced safety frameworks and reporting structures used by Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company, and outcomes informed later retrofits and operational protocols parallel to procedural changes following incidents involving other fleets such as the Shinkansen Series 500.

Preservation and Legacy

As sets reached the end of revenue service, selected cars were earmarked for preservation in museums and display sites associated with institutions like the Railway Museum in Saitama and regional transport heritage centers in Hiroshima and Osaka. The 700 series influenced subsequent high-speed design choices seen in the Shinkansen Series N700 and continuing research at organizations like the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. Its legacy is cited in studies comparing rolling stock evolution across lines such as the Tokaido Shinkansen, Sanyo Shinkansen, and expansion projects linked to the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Category:Shinkansen Category:High-speed trains of Japan