At Economy Class and Beyond, I have a very soft spot for the Japanese High Speed network and its trains (see here, here, here, here and here for a few examples when I was last out in Japan)
Yes. I can go quite densha otaku when it comes to the JR Shinkasen network.
N700 Shinkansen at Shin-Osaka. Image, Economy Class and Beyond.
Well, it seems JR Central is planning the next generation of the N700 – with the development of the N700S Series.
JR Central N700S Lead car – Image, JR Central
As you can see, it’s an evolution of the N700 shown above, but with a redesigned front nose – as well
According to Railway Gazette, JR Central is commission an initial set (due March 2018), and the fleet to enter service en-mass from 2021.
These trains will operate along the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines (linking Tokyo with Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Hakata.
The new fleet follows on from the N700 and N700A Shinkansen trains-sets, with multiple technical changes involved to allow more flexibility and safety improvements.
For the passenger, little features like at seat power will be available at every seat (compared to just being in few places in normal class, and at every seat in Green Car).
Whilst JR Central are working on the N700S, work is still progressing on the Chuo Shinkansen – which will be operated by a Superconducting Maglev train.
Japan is one heck of a country to explore – and exploring it by train as opposed to air is a very viable option when you use it with a Japan Rail Pass.
Using the Shinkansen, you can explore it in double-quick time.
Editors note: Yes, I meant to post it last week. That plan went quicker than a speeding Shinkansen service…
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JR pass is great, but many N700 lines are Nozomi trains and are excluded from the pass, so just plan carefully.
I managed to get a bunch of N700 trains… and it is possible to get them on the JR Rail Pass.
Avoid the Kodama services if you can (all-stop service). They appear on the Hikari (16 Car Toyko – Shin Oskaka) and Sakura services often (8 car)