- Fastech 360
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Class E954 "Fastech 360 S"
Class E955 "Fastech 360 Z"
The Fastech 360S train at Omiya Station, May 2008In service 2005–2009 (fastech 360 S)
2006–2008 (fastech 360 Z)Manufacturer Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Constructed 2005 (fastech 360 S)
2006 (fastech 360 Z)Scrapped 2008 (fastech 360 Z)
2009 (fastech 360 S)Number built 8 vehicles (Fastech 360 S)
6 vehicles (Fastech 360 Z)Number in service None Number preserved 1 vehicles (Fastech 360 S)
None (Fastech 360 Z)Number scrapped 7 vehicles (Fastech 360 S)
6 vehicles (Fastech 360 Z)Formation 8 cars (Fastech 360 S)
6 cars (Fastech 360 Z)Fleet numbers S9 (Fastech 360 S)
S10 (Fastech 360 Z)Operator JR East Line(s) served Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Nagano Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen (Fastech 360 Z)Specifications Car body construction Aluminium alloy Maximum speed 360 km/h (224 mph) (nominal)
130 km/h (81 mph) (Akita Shinkansen)(Fastech 360 Z)Electric system(s) 25 kV AC, 50 Hz (Fastech 360 S)
25/20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Fastech 360 Z)Current collection method Overhead catenary Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) 
Detail of signature air brakes in deployed state
Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed trains 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/224 mph), the target operational speed for production trains based on the new technologies. Speeds of up to 405 km/h (251.7 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 (198.8 mph).
There were 2 trains:
- Class E954 Fastech 360S: 8-car set for use on Shinkansen tracks only
- Class E955 Fastech 360Z: 6-car set for use on both Shinkansen and Mini-shinkansen lines
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 E5 series.
Contents
Class E954 Fastech 360S
Car 8 end with arrow-line profile and leading bogie covers removed, February 2006This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by Hitachi Ltd., 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]
Formation
- E954-1 (T1c)
- E954-2 (M1) (with pantograph)
- E954-3 (M2) (with toilet)
- E954-4 (M2)
- E954-5 (M1s)
- E954-6 (M2)
- E954-7 (M1) (with pantograph)
- E954-8 (T2c)
Class E955 Fastech 360Z
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 Ltd.[5] The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.[2]
Formation
- E955-1 (M2c)
- E955-2 (M1s)
- E955-3 (M1) (with pantograph and toilet)
- E955-4 (M1)
- E955-5 (M1) (with pantograph)
- E955-6 (M2c)
See also
Media related to Fastech 360 at Wikimedia CommonsReferences
- ^ "FASTECH 360 High-Speed Shinkansen Test Train to Debut". 9 March 2005. http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/press/20050302/. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ^ a b JR電車編成表 2009夏 (JR EMU Formations - Summer 2009). Japan: JRR. June 2009. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8.
- ^ プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. ISBN 4910065141258.
- ^ JR電車編成表 2010夏 (JR EMU Formations - Summer 2010). Japan: JRR. May 2010. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1.
- ^ JR電車編成表 '07冬号 (JR EMU Formations - Winter 2007). Japan: JRR. December 2006. p. 12. ISBN 4-88283-046-9.
External links
- Press release from JR East (English)
- A bullet train... only with ears (BBC News)
- JR East press release: "新幹線高速試験電車 FASTECH 360 まもなくデビュー" (Japanese)
- 新幹線高速試験電車E955形式 （FASTECH360Z）の概要 (Japanese)
Shinkansen Lines in service Main lines Mini-Shinkansen
Future lines Cancelled lines Service names In service Discontinued Aoba • AsahiTrainsets In service 100 Series • 200 Series • 300 Series • 500 Series • 700 Series • N700 Series • 800 Series • E1 Series • E2 Series • E3 Series • E4 Series • E5 SeriesOn order E6 Series • L0 seriesRetired Export trainsets Non-revenue
earning trainsetsClass 1000 • Class 951 • Class 961 • Class 962 • Doctor Yellow • WIN350 • STAR21 • 300X • Fastech 360 • Gauge Change Train • MLX-01Operators Experimental and Prototype High-speed trains France France & Germany EurotrainGermany Japan JR–Maglev · Class 1000 Shinkansen · Class 951 Shinkansen · Class 961 Shinkansen · Class 962 Shinkansen · WIN350 · STAR21 · 300X · Fastech 360Korea HEMU-400X · HSR-350xRussia / USSR United Kingdom USA / Canada See also Category:Experimental and prototype high-speed trains , High-speed rail , List of high speed trainsCategories:- Shinkansen train series
- East Japan Railway Company
- 2005 introductions
- Experimental and prototype high-speed trains
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