Do you like Japan's trains? There are so many different kinds with varying design, speed, and function, let alone the range of shinkansen (bullet trains)! Here we take a look at a few of them.
Series 500: the Shinkansen which looks like an aircraft
The Series 500 Shinkansen, which first entered service in 1997, operates on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Shin-Osaka Station and Hakata Station in Fukuoka.
Its distinctive front car looks like the nose of a jet fighter, which give the whole train the image of an aircraft. The driver's car is 27 meters long, with the nose alone accounting for 15 meters, which is obviously a big departure from the snub bullet nose of the original shinkansen.
In order to reduce air resistance when operating at high speed, the profile of the entire train is round, resembling the fuselage of an aircraft. The shape and atmosphere of the passenger cars is similar to an airliner's cabin as well.
In June 2018, a "Hello Kitty Shinkansen" a collaboration between JR West and Sanrio, the producer of Hello Kitty started regular daily services between Shin-Osaka Station and Hakata Station. In addition to the Hello Kitty livery, the second car is dubbed the Kawaii (cute) room with a bright pink color scheme. The first car has no seats but sells a variety of local specialties from West Japan.
Why not take this "Hello Kitty Shinkansen" and go on a trip to West Japan?
"Doctor Yellow": Shinkansen’s Doctor
As its nickname Doctor Yellow suggests, this is no ordinary shinkansen but a test and diagnostic train.
It is used to check if there are any abnormalities on the track or overhead lines while traveling at speeds up tp 270 kilometers per hour. They are painted yellow so that they are more visible since testing is often conducted at night, and so passengers can easily recognize them and do not to attempt to board since they look the same as regular shinkansen in other respects.
Doctor Yellow runs on the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Tokyo and Hakata Station in Fukuoka. Test runs take place about once every 10 days. The train heads from Tokyo to Hakata on the first day, and returns the next day.
Doctor Yellow's operating schedule is not publicized making it difficult to see one. Sightings are rare so if you happen to see one at Tokyo or Hakata station, consider yourself very lucky.
There are still many other cool and unique Japanese trains and in the next article, we will introduce some more. Don't miss it!!
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