Next-generation Shinkansen driving test released October 28, 5:23, aiming for commercial operation at a maximum speed of 360 km / h

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A running test of the next-generation Shinkansen test vehicle "ALFA-X" being developed by JR East for the extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo was conducted on the Tohoku Shinkansen track for the first time on the night of the 27th, and it was the best. It was released that the speed was temporarily increased to 380 km / h.

The next-generation Shinkansen test vehicle, "ALFA-X," arrived at the platform of Sendai Station, the departure station for the driving test, after 11:00 pm on the 27th.

"ALFA-X" is characterized by a longer tip than the conventional Shinkansen to reduce air resistance, and is equipped with a new suspension and braking system that suppresses vehicle vibration.



The driving test was conducted between Sendai Station and Morioka Station, but before Ichinoseki Station in Iwate Prefecture, the speed reached 380 km / h, which exceeds the current maximum speed of 320 km / h on the Shinkansen.

While driving, there was no big vibration inside the car, and the PET bottle placed on the table did not move much from side to side.



JR East, which is developing the next-generation Shinkansen, is aiming for commercial operation at a maximum speed of 360 km / h, aiming to shorten the time between Tokyo and Sapporo when the Hokkaido Shinkansen is extended to Sapporo in 2030. there is.



Koji Asano, director of the JR East Advanced Railway System Development Center, said, "I would like to pursue a ride that is as good as or better than the previous Shinkansen, and continue test driving in the future."

The aim of commercial operation at a maximum speed of 360 km / h is

The aim of the next-generation Shinkansen to operate at 360 km / h, which is even higher than the current maximum speed of the Shinkansen, is to shorten the time between Tokyo and Sapporo as much as possible when the Hokkaido Shinkansen extends to Sapporo.



In the "Long-term Management Vision" announced last year, JR Hokkaido will try to connect Tokyo and Sapporo in as fast as four and a half hours by using the next-generation Shinkansen developed by JR East.



However, according to JR East, which is developing the next-generation Shinkansen, it seems that it will take about 5 hours between Tokyo and Sapporo at the current operating speed, and to shorten it by 30 minutes, "There are many problems to be solved. ".



First of all, in order to operate at 360 km / h, it is necessary to take measures against noise such as loud noise generated at the exit when the Shinkansen passes through the tunnel.



The "ALFA-X" is designed so that the "nose" at the tip is 7 meters longer than the current "Hayabusa" on the Tohoku Shinkansen, but noise control measures include installing noise barriers along the line. Construction is also required.



Another major issue is speeding up the Seikan Tunnel.

This is because the Seikan Tunnel has a speed limit of 160 km / h to prevent cargo from collapsing when the Shinkansen and freight trains pass each other.



Commercial operation at 210 km / h is scheduled for the first time during the year-end and New Year holidays, but we will discuss the operation of freight trains that support logistics in Honshu and Hokkaido and how to make a compromise. It means that it will be.

Next-generation Shinkansen earthquake countermeasures

The "ALFA-X", which exceeds the maximum speed of the conventional Shinkansen, is equipped with a new device so that it can stop quickly in the event of a large earthquake.

When the preliminary tremors of an earthquake are detected by a device called an "aerodynamic resistance plate unit", the plate automatically rises, slows down due to air resistance, and makes an emergency stop with the brakes.



The equipment that makes the vehicle emergency stop by air resistance is commonly called "cat ears" from the outside, and it was installed in the test vehicles so far, but it has not been introduced in the actual vehicle.



This time, we are considering introducing it into an actual vehicle when aiming for commercial operation at 360 km / h, which means that we will aim for the distance required for an emergency stop to be 4000 meters or less, which is the same as the conventional Shinkansen.



In addition, we will introduce a device called an "earthquake countermeasure damper" and a "crushable stopper" to suppress the shaking of the vehicle body due to an earthquake to prepare for a large earthquake.