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Japan tests next-generation bullet train

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2030-31, good grief! I'd likely be dead by then. These need their own tracks?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Impressive, but damn it's ugly.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

It should be called the "Jimmy Durante" or "JD" Express...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

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@ extanker : Impressive, but damn it's ugly.

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true.

But this is one area J technology remains preeminent.

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2 ( +2 / -0 )

@semperfi

Oh, you get no argument from me there. Here in the US we can't even get regular commuter train lines finished, let alone any sort of high speed rail.

It's just that the Shinkansen seem to keep getting goofier looking as they get faster! :-)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Geez, something has to be done with the design.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The “goofy shape” is what it is in order to minimize shockwaves when entering and exiting tunnels.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Oh, you get no argument from me there. Here in the US we can't even get regular commuter train lines finished, let alone any sort of high speed rail.

The US does have high speed rail in the northeast. We will likely never have it across the whole country as the amount of rail required would be astronomical and Americans tend to prefer driving and flying. I've lived in Japan for quite a while and I've never taken the shinkansen. It's price is comparable to a plane ticket and I don't get there as fast. I'd rather just drive. I atleast get more freedom.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

 It's price is comparable to a plane ticket and I don't get there as fast. I'd rather just drive. I atleast get more freedom.

I guess it's where you live and where you're going. I'm in the middle of Tokyo so going anywhere by car means a high probability of traffic congestion on the expressways. Tokyo station is only 15 minutes away. If I've got business in Osaka, I'm not going to drive. Flying might be faster in travel time, but I need to get to the airport, get through security at least 15 minutes before departure, then get from the airport to downtown or wherever my destination is. I also have to be more mindful about what I'm carrying. Shinkansen will likely be faster and less hassle. Definitely roomier. More comfortable seats. And snack carts.

If I'm going to Aomori, maybe I'll fly but probably I'll take the Shink. It's so much more comfortable, and compared to driving, I have "freedom". Freedom to read, freedom to nap, freedom to have a can of beer on the ride home, etc.

If I'm traveling on weekend or for holidays, I like to use the Shinkansen to get out of Tokyo (avoiding traffic jams - the bane of my existence) and then rent a car nearer the destination. Best of both worlds.

We all have different priorities and circumstances.

14 ( +14 / -0 )

@taj I can't agree more with you...you've written exactly all my thoughts there...!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Amazing! I can't wait to ride it at 320 kilometers per hour! Shinkansen just keeps getting better and more high tech with each model. Just wait for the copies to be released in China lol!!

2 ( +6 / -4 )

An while they are at it they could update their software to the 20th century and make tickets available for purchase online.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Tohoku Shinkansen corridor doesn't support 360 km/hr regular commercial service, the max possible for regular service is 320 km/hr.

The Alfa-X's max commercial service speed is determined by the track it runs on, not by the rolling stock itself.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

extanker - Impressive, but damn it's ugly

Don't worry! It will get prettied up with some Hello Kitty or One Piece stickers.

The current version of this train train travels well in excess of 300k already. Just how much time to they expect to cut off the trip? A couple of minutes? Seconds?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Tohoku Shinkansen corridor doesn't support 360 km/hr regular commercial service, the max possible for regular service is 320 km/hr.

The Alfa-X's max commercial service speed is determined by the track it runs on, not by the rolling stock itself.

Not even remotely correct. The only reason the current speed is limited to 320km/hr is because of the issues with entering tunnels that the current generation of rolling stock has. It's also has to do with laws regarding sound (from entering/exiting the tunnels) that is caused by the pressure waves and generally noise ordinances in cities. So yes, it is also determined by the rolling stock or else they wouldn't be testing these. The new design alleviates the pressure wave, making the rolling stock quieter and allowing them to travel at faster speeds without breaking laws regarding noise.

Work seems to be ongoing to upgrade the section between Morioka and Shin-Aomori to 320 km/h, primarily in the form of improved sound barriers. This should make operating at 360 km/h possible, if the improved noise dampening techniques being tested using the ALFA-X test train are successful.

From Wikipedia only because its in English. Original article is an article on Yahoo news.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@darknuts

The US does have high speed rail in the northeast.

Unfortunately, the limited amount high speed rail is only ‘high speed rail’ to us. The max speed is 125mph, while to the rest of the world it has to be able to do 150 to be considered high speed rail. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Do the Hustle......

....'The current version of this train train travels well in excess of 300k already. Just how much time to they expect to cut off the trip? A couple of minutes? Seconds?.......'

Just to allow the salarymen enough time to attend yet another inane,not needed,meeting.

Just as long as they think they are needed then they are needed.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@darknuts

Have you ever heard about global warming?

You may google it but I am kindly helping you with the below Wikipedia link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Why don't they encase the whole Shinkansen rail network within it's own tunnel, depressurizing the fast sections either gradually in stages or though a sort of airlock style of gateway ? Yes, it may block the window seat view, but the speed gains may be impressive.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The designer must be a Japanese man, the style tells all.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@ksteer

The only reason the current speed is limited to 320km/hr is because of the issues with entering tunnels that the current generation of rolling stock has.

The Tohoku Shinkansen corridor is not built for 360 km/hr revenue service, you need a 7,000 m minimum curvature radius for this.

The Tohoku Shinkansen is built to the 4,000 m minimum curvature standard and can't support 360 km/hr revenue service operation.

Only Chinese and Korean bullet train services may do 360 km/hr revenue service in the future should they choose to because they were indeed built to 7,000 m minimum curvature standard.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's pretty phallic looking.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

An while they are at it they could update their software to the 20th century and make tickets available for purchase online.

This already exists and there are instructions in English.

https://smart-ex.jp/en/lp/app/

This seems very similar to what I use in the UK.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Only Chinese and Korean bullet train services may do 360 km/hr revenue service in the future "

You're absolutely correct!

Everyone knows China and Korea invented high speed train transportation back in 1964, during the Beijing/Seoul Olympics,

They called it "Shinkansen", an amalgamation of common Chinese and Korean words.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

darknuts

We will likely never have it across the whole country as the amount of rail required would be astronomical

No more than China, and China has high speed rail all over the country.

and Americans tend to prefer driving and flying.

How would they know? They have never had any high speed rail to compare.

I've lived in Japan for quite a while and I've never taken the shinkansen. It's price is comparable to a plane ticket and I don't get there as fast. I'd rather just drive. I atleast get more freedom.

You should try it! A shink to Osaka is so much more relaxing than flying.

Driving isn't freedom. You are stuck in traffic behind a wheel.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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