The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built between 1997 and 2006, and entering service in 1999. Originally designated as "N300" during the development phase, they formed the next generation of Shinkansen vehicles jointly designed by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tokaido Shinkansen, Hakata Minami Line and the San'yō Shinkansen. Though it has since been withdrawn from service on the Tokaido Shinkansen, it continues to operate on the San'yō Shinkansen and Hakataminami Line.
Design
The 700 series is characterized by its flat 'duck-bill' nose designed to reduce the piston effect as the trains enter tunnels. 16-car units are painted white with blue stripes beneath the windows, and are used for Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama services on the Tokaido and San'yō Shinkansen lines, while 8-car units used for the San'yō Shinkansen Hikari Rail Star services have a darker livery (grey with black window areas and a yellow stripe beneath the windows) which also acts to visually deemphasize the units' nose area, resulting in a more streamlined impression.
As with the 500 series trains, yaw dampers are fitted between vehicles, and all cars feature semi-active suspension to ensure smooth ride characteristics at high speed. Compared with the small fleet of high-performance, high-cost 500 series trains built for JR-West, these trains were designed to give improved ride comfort and interior ambience over the earlier 300 series trains at a lower cost than the 500 series trains. The cost of a 16-car 700 series unit is approximately 4 billion yen compared with around 5 billion yen for a 16-car 500 series train.
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File:Central Japan Railway - Series 700-0 - Destination Sign - 01.JPG|C sets<br />Destination display
File:Central Japan Railway - Series 700-0 - Seat Sign - 01.JPG|C sets<br />Reservation display
File:West Japan Railway - Series 700-3000 - Destination Sign - 01.JPG|B sets<br />Destination display
File:700kei shiteiseki.jpg|B sets<br />Reservation display
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Operations
700 series trainsets were scheduled to be withdrawn from Tokaido Shinkansen services by the end of fiscal 2019. The last 700 series Tokaido Shinkansen run took place on 1 March 2020. However, the 700 series still operates on the San'yō Shinkansen.
Variants
- 700-9000 series: 16-car pre-series set
- 700-0 series: 16-car "C" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from March 1999. Retired from service on 28 February 2020. ( Originally scheduled to be 8 March 2020)
- 700-3000 series: 16-car "B" sets owned by JR-West, introduced from 2001. Retired from service in August 2020.
- 700-7000 series: 8-car Hikari Rail Star "E" sets owned by JR-West, introduced from 11 March 2000
Pre-series unit (700-9000 series)
The pre-series set, C0, was delivered in October 1997, and underwent endurance running mainly between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka until early 1999, including a short period of testing as an 8-car formation on the Sanyo Shinkansen. New single-arm current collectors were fitted from the start, and these initially featured the distinctive "wine-glass" pantograph shrouds of the 300X train. These were later changed to a design resembling the 500 series arrangement with additional side fences, which was used on the subsequent production trains. Unit C0 was modified to full production standard in September 1999 and renumbered as C1, and was officially withdrawn in January 2013.
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File:JR Central Shinkansen 700 C1.jpg|Set C1 in service in January 2010
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16-car C sets
thumb|JR Central set C40 on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kakegawa and Shizuoka in January 2008
thumb|Pantograph detail in March 2009
thumb|700 series logo next to door
These units were ordered by JR Central for use on Tokyo to Hakata Nozomi services, displacing the 300 series trains previously used on these services. Interior layout and accommodation is similar to that of the 300 series trains, with three Green class (first class) vehicles, and the same seat pitch in standard class, and in Green class. The central gangways were widened by to , and ceilings were raised by to . The refreshment counters of the 300 and 500 series trains were discontinued and replaced by vending machines selling drinks, located in cars 3, 7, 11, and 15.
Specifications permit running on the Sanyo Shinkansen with speed restricted to on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. The initial batch ordered by JR Central consisted of 17 units, with the first 4 units delivered in time for introduction on three daily return Nozomi services from March 1999. Services featuring 700 series stock were increased to five daily from July 1999, and further increased from October 1999. With continuing deliveries, 700 series trains were also introduced on Tōkaidō Shinkansen Hikari services from late 2000.
Set numbers C25 onwards introduced from May 2001 incorporate minor interior design improvements, including power outlets at the ends of cars for PC users, and hand-grabs on the edge of aisle seats. An order for an additional batch of six units was placed by JR Central in December 2003, with delivery scheduled for the end of 2004. These sets (C55 to C60) provided additional capacity for services connected with the Aichi Expo in 2005.
thumb|Streamlined bogie covers and flush diaphragm covers added experimentally to set C46, February 2003
Before entering passenger service, JR Central set C46 was used on a series of test runs from late January 2003 fitted with streamlined bogie covers on all cars and flush diaphragm covers between cars 16/15 and 15/14. These modifications were removed before the unit entered revenue service. Flush diaphragm covers were used on future trains, such as the N700 series.
Between October 2008 and June 2009, JR Central's fleet of 60 700 series sets underwent modifications to increase the acceleration from the original on the Tokaido Shinkansen to improve timetable planning flexibility.
During fiscal 2011, eight JR Central "C" sets (C11 to C18) were transferred to JR-West to replace its fleet of nine 300 series sets scheduled to be withdrawn by spring 2012.
Withdrawals of 700 series sets began in July 2011 with the withdrawal of set C4. It continued in 2013 (sets C1, C2, C3, C5 - C8) and in 2014 (C9, C10, C20 - C24).
The remaining 700 series sets were removed from regularly scheduled Tokaido Shinkansen services from 1 December 2019. The last Tokaido Shinkansen 700 series run from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka had been scheduled to take place on 8 March 2020, but was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan. This cancellation resulted in the last 700 series Tokaido Shinkansen run taking place a week earlier on 1 March 2020.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 !! 7 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 8 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 9 !! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 10 !! 11 !! 12 !! 13 !! 14 !! 15 !! 16
|-
! Designation
| Tc || M2 || M'w || M1 || M1w || M' || M2k || style="background: #F5FFF5"| T's || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Ts || style="background: #F5FFF5"| M2s || M'h || M1 || M1w || M' || M2w || T'c
|-
! Numbering
| 723 || 727 || 726-500 || 725 || 725-300 || 726 || 727-400 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 718 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 719 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 717 || 726-700 || 725-600 || 725-500 || 726-200 || 727-500 || 724
|-
! Seating capacity
| 65 || 100 || 85 || 100 || 90 || 100 || 75 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 68 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 64 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| 68 || 63 || 100 || 90 || 100 || 80 || 75
|}
Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
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File:TEC Series700C GREEN CAR Interior 719-15.jpg|Green-class car (car 9) in March 2010
File:700C car 13 interior 20100120.jpg|Standard-class car (car 13) in January 2010
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16-car B sets (700-3000 series)
thumb|JR-West 700-3000 series set B9 in March 2010
thumb|The "JR700" logo on the side of set B14 in January 2011
These are the units owned by JR-West for use on through Hikari services from Tokyo, displacing the 100 series V Grand Hikari stock previously used on these services. With the timetable revision following the opening of Shinagawa Station in October 2003, the number of Nozomi trains increased significantly, and they were also used for the Nozomi service. A total of 15 units were delivered from June 2001 to January 2006. These trains use the same bogies as the JR-West 500 series sets. Other differences include LED destination indicator panels, white pantograph side fences, "JR 700" logos on the cab sides, and also different seat designs.
Formation
The 16-car B sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata (west) end.
Formation
The 8-car E sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata (west) end). Operation is scheduled to commence 12 April 2025.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Year !! JR Central !! JR West !! Total
|-
| align = left |1998 || 16 || 0 || 16
|-
| align = left |1999 || 80 || 0 || 80
|-
| align = left |2000 || 176 || 80 || 256
|-
| align = left |2001 || 384 || 112 || 496
|-
| align = left |2002 || 592 || 168 || 760
|-
| align = left |2003 || 768 || 232 || 1,000
|-
| align = left |2004 || 864 || 312 || 1,176
|-
| align = left |2005 || 960 || 328 || 1,288
|-
| align = left |2006 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2007 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2008 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2009 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2010 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2011 || 960 || 368 || 1,328
|-
| align = left |2012 || 816 || 496 || 1,312
|-
| align = left |2013 || 752 || 496 || 1,248
|-
| align = left |2014 || 640 || 496 || 1,136
|-
| align = left |2015 || 512 || 496 || 1,008
|-
| align = left |2016 || 448 || 464 || 912
|-
| align = left |2017 || 336 || 368 || 704
|-
| align = left |2018 || 224 || 320 || 544
|-
| align = left |2019 || 96 || 256 || 352
|-
| align = left |2020 || 0 || 144 || 144
|-
| align = left |2021 || 0 || 128 || 128
|-
| align = left |2022 || 0 || 128 || 128
|}
Derivatives
Two Class 923 "Doctor Yellow" trains based on the 700 series design are used for track and overhead wire diagnostic work on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. Both the 800 series and Taiwan High Speed 700T were directly developed from the 700 series. The N700 series and N700S series are also developed from the 700 series.
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File:Type923-T4.jpg|A JR Central Class 923 "Doctor Yellow" train
File:Kyushu Railway - Series 800-1000 - 01.JPG|A JR Kyushu 800 Series Shinkansen train
File:THSR 700T TR17 20130907.jpg|A Taiwan High Speed 700T train
File:Series-N700A-F20.jpg|A JR Central N700 Series Shinkansen train
File:Series-N700S-J2.jpg|A JR Central N700S Series Shinkansen train
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Accidents and incidents
- On June 14, 2018, the Nozomi Superexpress No. 176, operated by 16-car JR West 700 series set B8, collided with a man trespassing on the tracks between Hakata Station and Kokura Station on the San'yō Shinkansen, killing the trespasser instantly and dismembering their body from the impact force. The lead power car sustained substantial damage to its nose. The driver of the train reported hearing an unusual sound at the time of the collision, but continued onward, believing that he had hit an animal and that the incident was too minor to immediately report. The driver of another bullet train service noticed the damage to the train after it had stopped at Kokura, reporting the train's condition to the operation center, but the train continued on its route eastward, departing from the station as normal shortly afterwards. The driver of Superexpress No. 176 was contacted, and the train was brought to a stop and taken out of service for inspection at Shin-Shimonoseki Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. A visual investigation of the power car found bloodstains on its front, as well as human remains that had been forced inside the damaged area from the force of the collision. Additional remains of the trespasser were found in the vicinity of the Ishisaka tunnel in Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu. Following the incident, JR West reiterated its policy that drivers of bullet trains were to immediately bring the train to a stop and contact the operation center upon the occurrence of any unusual noises, regardless of how severe they believed the cause to be.
Preserved examples
thumb|723-9001 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park in April 2014
- 723-9001 (ex-prototype set C1, built 1997 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, from 2 January 2014.
See also
- List of high speed trains
References
External links
- JR Central 700 series
- One Piece Shinkansen (Official Website)