The 500 series (500系, Go-hykau-kei) is a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in Japan on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line from 1997 until 2010, and the San'yō Shinkansen line since 1997 and 2008. They were designed to be capable of 320 km/h (199 mph) but operated at 300 km/h (186 mph), until they were retired from the primary Nozomi service in 2010. The trainsets were then refurbished and downgraded to the all-stations Kodama service between Shin-Ōsaka and Hakata.
500 series | |
---|---|
In service | 22 March 1997 | – present
Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo |
Designer | Alexander Neumeister |
Replaced | 0 series |
Constructed | 1995–1998 |
Entered service | 1997 |
Refurbished | 2008–2010 |
Number built | 144 vehicles (9 sets) |
Number in service | 48 vehicles (6 sets) |
Number preserved | 2 vehicles |
Number scrapped | 78 vehicles |
Formation | 8 (originally 16) cars per trainset |
Fleet numbers |
|
Capacity |
|
Operators | JR-West |
Depots | Hakata |
Lines served | Sanyo Shinkansen, Hakata-Minami Line, Tokaido Shinkansen (1997–2010) |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium alloy, Honeycomb structure |
Car length |
|
Width | 3,380 mm (11 ft 1 in) |
Height | 3,690 mm (12 ft 1 in) |
Doors | Two plug doors per side (intermediate cars) One plug door per side (end cars) |
Maximum speed |
|
Traction system | (AC) WMT204 64 × 285 kW (382 hp) (set W1)/275 kW (369 hp) (set W2 onward)[1] |
Power output | 18.24 MW (24,460 hp) (set W1), 17.60 MW (23,600 hp) (set W2 onward) |
Acceleration | 1.6 km/(h⋅s) (0.99 mph/s)[2]
1.92 km/(h⋅s) (1.19 mph/s) (High acceleration mode)[2] |
Deceleration | 2.7 km/(h⋅s) (1.7 mph/s) |
Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary |
Current collector(s) |
|
Safety system(s) | ATC-NS |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Notes/references | |
This train won the 41st Blue Ribbon Award in 1998. |
Overview
editThe general design concept was overseen by German industrial designer Alexander Neumeister.[3] The running gear utilizes computer-controlled active suspension[4] for a smoother, safer ride, and yaw dampers are fitted between cars for improved stability. All sixteen cars in each original trainset were powered, giving a maximum of 18.24 MW (24,460 hp). Each train cost an estimated 5 billion yen, and only nine were built. It used biomimicry to reduce energy consumption by 15%, increase speeds by 10% and reduce noise levels while increasing passenger comfort. This was done by making the train's front have the shape of a kingfisher's beak.[5]
6-car 500-900 WIN350 set
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2022) |
This was a prototype for the Series 500.
16-car W sets
editFirst announced by JR-West in September 1994,[6] the first set was delivered for testing in 1995, entering passenger service in March 1997. The entire fleet of nine sets was delivered by 1998. It was the first Shinkansen train in Japan to operate at a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) in regular passenger service. Besides the premium Nozomi services, 16-car trains were also used on Hikari Rail Star services during the busy holiday periods.
With the steady increase in the number of N700 Series Shinkansen since 2007, the 500 series were gradually retired from the Nozomi services. The last 500 series Nozomi run took place on 28 February 2010.[7]
Formation
editCar No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Designation | Mc | M1 | Mp | M2 | M' | M1 | Mp | Ms2 | Ms | M1s | Mpkh | M2 | M' | M1 | Mp | M2c |
Numbering | 521-xx | 526-xx | 527-xx | 528-xx | 525-xx | 526-xx | 527-4xx | 518-xx | 515-xx | 516-xx | 527-7xx | 528-7xx | 525-xx | 526-xx | 527-xx | 522-xx |
Seating capacity | 53 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 95 | 100 | 75 | 68 | 64 | 68 | 63 | 100 | 95 | 100 | 90 | 63 |
Cars 8 to 10 were "Green" (first class) cars. Cars 5 and 13 each had one "T"-style current collector.[8]
Interior
edit-
Standard-class car interior view
-
Standard-class seating
-
Green car seating
8-car V sets (500-7000 series)
editEight of the original nine 500 series sets were modified and shortened to eight cars between 2008 and 2010, and were cascaded to Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama workings, replacing the earlier 0 series sets (V2 to V9).[9] The first reformed eight-car set was unveiled to the press on 28 March 2008, and the trains entered service on twelve daily Kodama runs from 1 December 2008.[10]
The maximum operating speed of these trains has been reduced to 285 km/h (177 mph).[11]
Formation
editAs of 27 March 2023[update], the fleet consists of six eight-car sets (V2–V4, V7–V9) formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata end.[12][unreliable source]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Designation | Mc | M1 | Mp | M2 | M | M1 | Mpkh | M2c |
Numbering | 521-70xx | 526-70xx | 527-70xx | 528-70xx | 525-70xx | 526-72xx | 527-77xx | 522-70xx |
Formerly | 521 (car 1) | 526 (car 2) | 527 (car 3) | 528 (car 4) | 525 (car 13) | 516 (car 10) | 527-700 (car 11) | 522 (car 16) |
Seating capacity | 53 | 100 | 78 | 100 | 95 | 68 | 51 | 63 |
Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.[13]
Interior
editPassenger accommodation consists of 3+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with 2+2 abreast seating in car 6 (former Green car). Between October and December 2013, cars 4 and 5 are also scheduled to have the original seating removed and replaced with new 2+2 abreast seating, the same as used in the Hikari Rail Star 700 series trainsets.[14][15]
All passenger saloons on the 8-car 500 series trains are no-smoking, with new smoking compartments installed in cars 3 and 7.[13] Cars 1, 3, 5, and 7 are equipped with toilets.[13]
-
Non-reserved seating car in May 2012
-
Reserved seating car (car 6) in May 2012
-
Smoking compartment in car 7 in May 2012
-
Mock-up of the driver's cab in an 8-car 500 series trainset
Future plans
editIn announcement made on 14 February 2024, JR West outlined plans to retire four of the six remaining 500 series sets from revenue service by the end of 2026.[16] The plan is to shorten four existing 16-car N700 series sets into eight-car sets to replace the 500 series sets.[16] On 24 July 2024, JR West announced plans to retire the last two 500 series sets by 2027.[17]
Special liveries
edit500 Type Eva
editSince 7 November 2015, set V2 runs in a special "500 Type Eva" livery as part of the "Shinkansen:Evangelion Project" tie-up project to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen and the 20th anniversary of Neon Genesis Evangelion.[18] Initially planned to operate until March 2017, this livery was extended until 13 May 2018.[19][20] From 24 February until 7 May 2018, the 500 series car preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery.[21][additional citation(s) needed]
-
521-7002 (Car 1)
-
526-7004 (Car 2)
-
527-7003 (Car 3)
-
528-7002 (Car 4)
-
525-7004 (Car 5)
-
526-7202 (Car 6)
-
527-7702 (Car 7)
-
522-7002 (Car 8)
Interior
edit-
The interior of car 2 in March 2016
-
Seats in car 2 designated for passengers waiting to use car 1
-
The Evangelion cockpit mockup in car 1
Hello Kitty
editIn March 2018, JR West announced the launch of a special "Hello Kitty" themed 500 series train on Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama services.[22][23] The train entered service on 30 June 2018.[24]
-
521-7002 (Car 1)
-
526-7004 (Car 2)
-
527-7003 (Car 3)
-
528-7002 (Car 4)
-
525-7004 (Car 5)
-
526-7202 (Car 6)
-
527-7702 (Car 7)
-
522-7002 (Car 8)
Preserved examples
editAs of 2023, two 500 Series cars have been preserved, both from the same set. Car 521–1, formerly the front car of set W1, is preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum, which opened in April 2016.[25] This car was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery between 24 February and 7 May 2018.[26] Car 522–1, formerly the end car of set W1, is preserved at the Hitachi Rail Kasado factory in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi, in Autumn 2015.
In popular culture
editThe 500 Series Shinkansen served as basis for Liner Gao in Japanese mecha anime series The King of Braves GaoGaiGar.[27]
The Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion franchise would feature the 500 series as one of its many titular mecha. In addition to the standard livery, the Evangelion and Hello Kitty-wrapped versions also appeared in both the toyline and anime.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Railway Journal. Japan: 46. May 2008.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - ^ a b Railway Journal: 36. September 2007.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: untitled periodical (link) - ^ 新幹線 車両大全 [Shinkansen Cars Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. November 2011. pp. 96–121. ISBN 978-4-86320-526-0.
- ^ Sasaki, Kimiaki (1 January 2003). "Semi-Active Suspension System" (PDF). Railway Technology Avalanche. p. 5.
- ^ Warson, Skipper Chong (2 January 2018). "Looking deeper into biomimicry: how nature inspires design". Medium.
- ^ Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-88-5.
- ^ "Train fans bid farewell to Nozomi bullet train service". Japan Today. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ^ JR電車編成表 2010夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2010]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2010. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1.
- ^ "Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō" magazine February 2008 issue, p74
- ^ 平成20年度【冬】の臨時列車の運転について [Winter 2008 additional train services] (PDF) (in Japanese). West Japan Railway. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ 新幹線こだま 500系 [Kodama Shinkansen 500 serie] (in Japanese). West Japan Railway. 2009. Archived from the original on 5 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "山陽新幹線500系7000番台編成表 - JR編成表、配置表". sirasagi683kei.wiki.fc2.com. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
- ^ a b c JR電車編成表 2016夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 20 May 2016. p. 133. ISBN 978-4-330-68216-7.
- ^ JR西500系こだま ゆったり [JR-West 500 series Kodama to become roomier]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). Japan: The Yomiuri Shimbun. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2013.[dead link]
- ^ 500系こだま号の4列シート車両の拡充について [Increase in number of 4-abreast seating cars on 500 series Kodama trains]. Press Release (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
- ^ a b "JR西日本、N700系16両編成を8両編成化 - 500系は4編成を用途廃止に". MyNavi Corporation (in Japanese). 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ "JR西日本、新幹線500系が27年引退へ 車両の共通化進む" (in Japanese). The Nikkei. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ 山陽新幹線で「500 TYPE EVA」の運転開始 ["500 Type Eva" runs on Sanyo Shinkansen]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 8 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ^ "500 TYPE EVA"5月に運行終了 ["500 Type Eva" operations to end in May]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
- ^ 京都鉄道博物館で500系新幹線に「500 TYPE EVA」仕様ラッピング [Kyoto Transport Museum 500 series Shinkansen car wrapped in "500 Type Eva" livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 March 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Hello Kitty bullet train to debut on Sanyo Line this summer". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "Hello Kitty bullet train to debut in Japan on June 30". japantimes.co.jp. The Japan Times. 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 13 September 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
- ^ "Süße Katzen auf Erfolgsschiene" [Cute cats on track to success]. Lok Magazin (in German). Vol. 5/2019, no. 452. Geramond Verlag. May 2019. p. 34. ISSN 0458-1822.
- ^ 京都鉄道博物館 [Kyoto Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. p. 61.
- ^ Abe, Ryutaro (19 February 2018). "Evangelion bullet train to go on show in Kyoto rail museum". Asahi Shimbun. The Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
- ^ "MECHANICS" (in Japanese). 6 June 2023.
Further reading
edit- JR全車両ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006.
External links
edit- JR-West 500 series Kodama Archived 5 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
- Nippon Sharyo information (in Japanese)