FASTECH 360
Encyclopedia
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. 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:
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 , which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the E5 series.
.
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.
The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped.
, and cars 2 and 3 were built by Hitachi Ltd. The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
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. Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series
E5 Series Shinkansen
The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by East Japan Railway Company on Tōhoku Shinkansen services since 5 March 2011. A total of 59 10-car sets are on order, with three sets in service in time for the start of new Hayabusa services to Shin-Aomori in March...
and E6 series
E6 Series Shinkansen
The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type on order by East Japan Railway Company for use on Komachi 'mini-shinkansen' services on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen from Tokyo to Akita commencing in March 2013. The new 7-car trains will operate in conjunction with newly...
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-shinkansenMini-shinkansenis the name given to the concept of converting narrow gauge railway lines to standard gauge for use by Shinkansen train services in Japan. Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen.-Concept:...
lines
Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking
Air brake (aircraft)
In aeronautics, air brakes or speedbrakes are a type of flight control surface used on an aircraft to increase drag or increase the angle of approach during landing....
plates like that of an aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of , which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the E5 series.
Class E954 Fastech 360S
This 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 IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
.
Car E954-1 has a stream-line profile, reminiscent of the 500 series
500 Series Shinkansen
The is a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Sanyō Shinkansen lines in Japan. They were designed to be capable of although they currently operate at a maximum of in service...
, and E954-8 has an arrow-line profile more reminiscent of the JR East E2 series
E2 Series Shinkansen
The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company on the Tōhoku and Nagano Shinkansen high-speed lines in Japan since 1997. They are formed in 8- and 10-car sets. The 8-car sets are used on the Nagano Shinkansen, and the 10-car sets on Tōhoku Shinkansen...
and E4 series
E4 Series Shinkansen
The is a high-speed shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan. They were the second series of completely bi-level Shinkansen trainsets to be built in Japan . They operate on the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen, and occasionally on the Nagano Shinkansen...
designs.
The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped.
Formation
- E954-1 (T1c)
- E954-2 (M1) (with pantographPantograph (rail)A pantograph for rail lines is a hinged electric-rod device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. The pantograph typically connects to a one-wire line, with the track acting as the ground wire...
) - 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 IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
, and cars 2 and 3 were built by Hitachi Ltd. The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.
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)