Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed EMU trainsets developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock. The name is a portmanteau of Fast, Technology, and 360 km/h (360 km/h or 225 mph), the target operational speed for production trains based on the new technologies. Speeds of up to 405 km/h (250 mph) were targeted during performance testing. [1] Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series and E6 series trains, entering revenue service from 2011, eventually operating at 320 km/h (200 mph).
There were 2 trains:
Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking plates like that of an aircraft, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of Nekomimi Shinkansen (猫耳新幹線), which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the subsequent E5 series or E6 series trains.[ citation needed]
Class E954 "Fastech 360S" | |
---|---|
In service | 2005–2009 |
Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
Constructed | 2005 |
Scrapped | 2009 |
Number built | 8 vehicles |
Number in service | None |
Number preserved | None |
Number scrapped | 8 vehicles |
Formation | 8 cars |
Fleet numbers | S9 |
Operators | JR East |
Depots | Sendai |
Lines served | Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal) |
Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz Overhead catenary |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by Hitachi, and cars 4 to 8 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. [2]
Car E954-1 has a stream-line profile, reminiscent of the 500 series, and E954-8 has an arrow-line profile more reminiscent of the JR East E2 series and E4 series designs. [3]
The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped. [4]
Class E955 "Fastech 360Z" | |
---|---|
In service | 2006–2008 |
Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
Constructed | 2006 |
Scrapped | 2008 |
Number built | 6 vehicles |
Number in service | None |
Number preserved | None |
Number scrapped | 6 vehicles |
Formation | 6 cars |
Fleet numbers | S10 |
Operators | JR East |
Lines served | Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal) 130 km/h (80 mph) (Akita Shinkansen) |
Electric system(s) | 25/20 kV AC, 50 Hz Overhead catenary |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
This 6-car set (S10) was delivered on 6 April 2006. Cars 1 and 4 to 6 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and cars 2 and 3 were built by Hitachi [5] The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped. [2]
Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed EMU trainsets developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock. The name is a portmanteau of Fast, Technology, and 360 km/h (360 km/h or 225 mph), the target operational speed for production trains based on the new technologies. Speeds of up to 405 km/h (250 mph) were targeted during performance testing. [1] Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series and E6 series trains, entering revenue service from 2011, eventually operating at 320 km/h (200 mph).
There were 2 trains:
Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking plates like that of an aircraft, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of Nekomimi Shinkansen (猫耳新幹線), which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the subsequent E5 series or E6 series trains.[ citation needed]
Class E954 "Fastech 360S" | |
---|---|
In service | 2005–2009 |
Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
Constructed | 2005 |
Scrapped | 2009 |
Number built | 8 vehicles |
Number in service | None |
Number preserved | None |
Number scrapped | 8 vehicles |
Formation | 8 cars |
Fleet numbers | S9 |
Operators | JR East |
Depots | Sendai |
Lines served | Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal) |
Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz Overhead catenary |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by Hitachi, and cars 4 to 8 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. [2]
Car E954-1 has a stream-line profile, reminiscent of the 500 series, and E954-8 has an arrow-line profile more reminiscent of the JR East E2 series and E4 series designs. [3]
The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped. [4]
Class E955 "Fastech 360Z" | |
---|---|
In service | 2006–2008 |
Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
Constructed | 2006 |
Scrapped | 2008 |
Number built | 6 vehicles |
Number in service | None |
Number preserved | None |
Number scrapped | 6 vehicles |
Formation | 6 cars |
Fleet numbers | S10 |
Operators | JR East |
Lines served | Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal) 130 km/h (80 mph) (Akita Shinkansen) |
Electric system(s) | 25/20 kV AC, 50 Hz Overhead catenary |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
This 6-car set (S10) was delivered on 6 April 2006. Cars 1 and 4 to 6 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and cars 2 and 3 were built by Hitachi [5] The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped. [2]