| 500 series | |
|---|---|
16-car 500 series on Nozomi service, May 2008 |
|
| In service | 1997–present |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo |
| Replaced | 0 series |
| Constructed | 1995–1998 |
| Refurbishment | 2008-2010 |
| Number built | 144 vehicles (9 sets) |
| Number in service | 64 vehicles (8 sets)[1] |
| Number scrapped | 64 vehicles |
| Formation | 8 or 16 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | 16-car W set: 1,324 (200 Green + 1,124 Standard) 8-car V set: 608 |
| Operator | JR West |
| Depot(s) | Hakata[2] |
| Line(s) served | Sanyō Shinkansen |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
| Car length | 25,000 mm (984.25 in) (intermediate cars), 27,000 mm (1,062.99 in) (end cars) |
| Width | 3,380 mm (133.07 in) |
| Height | 3,690 mm (145.28 in) |
| Maximum speed | W set: 300 km/h (186 mph) (Sanyō) V set: 285 km/h (177 mph) Design speed: 320 km/h (199 mph) |
| Acceleration |
1.6 km/h/s [3] 1.92 km/h/s (High acceleration mode)[3] |
| Deceleration | 2.7 km/h/s |
| Traction system | (AC) WMT204 64 x 285 kW (382 hp) (W1 set)/275 kW (369 hp) (from W2 set)[4] |
| Power output | 18.24 MW (24,460 hp) (W1 set), 17.60 MW (23,600 hp) (W2 set onward) |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC, 60 Hz overhead catenary |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| Safety system(s) | ATC-1, ATC-NS |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
The 500 series (500系) is a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Sanyō Shinkansen lines in Japan.[5] They were designed to be capable of 320 km/h (199 mph) but operated at 300 km/h (186 mph), until they were finally retired from the primary Nozomi service in 2010. The trainsets were then refurbished and downgraded to the local Kodama servce between Osaka and Hakata.
The 500 series has long, pointed nose cones much more like that of a supersonic plane than that of a conventional high-speed train. The running gear utilizes computer-controlled active suspension for a smoother, safer ride, and anti-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 costed an estimated 5 billion yen, and only nine were built.
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First 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]
| Car 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 | 526 | 527 | 528 | 525 | 526 | 527-400 | 518 | 515 | 516 | 527-700 | 528-700 | 525 | 526 | 527 | 522 |
| Seating capacity | 53 | 100 | 90 | 100 | 95 | 100 | 75 | 68 | 64 | 68 | 63 | 100 | 95 | 100 | 90 | 63 |
Cars 5 and 13 each have one "T"-style current collector.[2]
Eight of the original nine 500 series sets were modified and shortened to 8 cars between 2008 and 2010, and were cascaded to Sanyō Shinkansen Kodama workings, replacing the earlier 0 series sets.[8] The first reformed 8-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.[9]
All passenger saloons on the 8-car 500 series trains have been made no-smoking, with new smoking compartments installed. The maximum operating speed of these trains has been reduced to 285 km/h (177 mph).[10]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Mc | M1 | Mp | M2 | M | M1 | Mpkh | M2c |
| Numbering | 521-7000 | 526-7000 | 527-7000 | 528-7000 | 525-7000 | 526-7200 | 527-7700 | 522-7000 |
| 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.[2]
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