N700S Series Shinkansen

The N700S Series Shinkansen is a Japanese high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the Central Japan Railway Company since July 2020, the West Japan Railway Company since March 2021 and the Kyushu Railway Company since September 2022.
==History==
The N700S Series Shinkansen was designed as the sixth generation of Shinkansen sets in use on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, after the 0, 100, 300, 700 and N700 Series; the 500 Series vehicles are not counted in this tally as those were designed by JR West. Production of the N700S Series Shinkansen was confirmed by JR Central on 24 June 2016. The N700S is notable as being the first Shinkansen set to be designed solely by JR Central since the 300 Series; the preceding N700 Series Shinkansen was a joint development between JR West and Central. The trains were designated N700S, with the S standing for Supreme.
The prototype set, J0, was completed by Nippon Sharyo on 25 March 2018 and shown off to the public at Hamamasu Depot; the sets were given the "J" designation, the same as the now-retired 300 Series. After completion, J0 was used for various high-speed tests and evaluation; it is still used for that purpose today and is not used for revenue service. With the introduction of J0, N700 Series set X0 was thus withdrawn from service and scrapped. J0 was also used for high-speed tests with target speeds of over 360 km/h (224 mph), with the set reaching a speed of 362 km/h (225 mph); this may indicate a future increase in speeds on the Tōkaidō and Sanyō Shinkansen.
The first full-production N700S Series set, J1, was delivered on 14 April 2020, with the sets entering service officially on 1 July 2020. JR West ordered a number of other sets as well, with the first JR West set, H1, delivered on 23 October 2020; these sets are numbered in the -3000 sub-series, but have the same general specifications as the standard JR Central sets. The JR West sets entered service on 13 March 2021 with the introduction of the revised timetable. JR Kyushu ordered N700S Series sets as well, with the first set, Y1, delivered in January 2021; a total of four sets were built, intended for use on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, which opened on 23 September 2022.
Due to the train being regarded as having the best design features of that year, the N700S Series Shinkansen was the recipient of the 2020 Laurel Prize.
The N700S Series trains are being considered for use as rolling stock on the Texas Central Railway, of which JR Central acts as a technical advisor; while originally the standard N700 Series Shinkansen was considered, with the introduction of the N700S focus has since shifted to the later model. Taiwan High Speed Rail has also announced the purchase of twelve N700S-derived sets for use on their systems, replacing some older sets in service.
==Design==
The N700S Series Shinkansen features the Dual Supreme Wing design language, an evolution of the Aero Double Wing design from the N700 Series Shinkansen; the new Dual Supreme Wing design reduces noise, wind resistance and tunnel boom when the train enters a tunnel. The N700S also features distinctive sharply angled teardrop-shaped headlights which are noted to be 80% bigger than the headlights on the N700 Series Shinkansen. The headlights also use LEDs, a first for any Shinkansen train; compared to the high-intensity discharge headlights of the N700, the LED headlights conserve more energy.
==Specifications==
Construction of the N700S Series Shinkansen cars is made of a double-skinned hollow extruded aluminum alloy. The cross section of the trains is more square compared to the N700, allowing for more cabin space. During construction, a part of the aluminum alloy used in the extrusion is recycled for reuse through an "aluminum horizontal recycling" mechanism jointly developed by JR Central, Nippon Sharyo, Hitachi, Harita Metals and Sankyo Tateyama.
The trains use Mitsubishi pure silicon carbide-MOSFET variable frequency drives driving six pole traction motors, the first of their kind for a Shinkansen train; these have weight savings of 70 kg compared to previous traction motors due to a larger rotor mechanism. The traction motors was also redesigned, using bevel gears instead of helical gears to reduce noise and for ease of maintenance. The bogies were also modified, now sporting a design which is easier and faster to manufacture but is also stronger.
To improve ride comfort, both leading cars, the pantograph-equipped car and the green car feature full active damping instead of partial damping for added ride comfort; other cars feature semi-active damping, but also feature numerous redundancies to allow them to be used even if some of the parts fail to function. The underfloor equipment is also optimized, allowing the same standard design to be used to produce 12 or 8-car trains in the future; this was done in an attempt to make the trains more flexible for potential export markets and buyers.
Other refinements to the train's ATC and braking systems were also made, allowing for shorter stopping distances when required in situations such as earthquakes. The underfloor optimizations also allowed Toshiba SCiB LTO batteries to be installed in the underfloor, allowing the trains to operate at a low speed when main power is cut off. The pantograph was also redesigned to prevent less sparks and better current collection.
==Gallery==
N700S Impression.png|Early artist's impression to showcase Dual Supreme Wing design language
N700S J0.jpg|Pre-production set J0 in March 2018
N700S J1 Sanyō 2021.jpg|Set J1 in June 2021
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Tilting trainsets
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Nippon Sharyo locomotives
Category:Japanese locomotives
Category:Japan
Category:Locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:High speed rail