ALFA-X

The Class E956 Shinkansen, better known as the ALFA-X (Advanced Labs for Frontline Activity in rail eXperimentation), is a Japanese experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since May 2019.
==History==
Initial details of the ALFA-X were published on 4 July 2017. The sole ten car set is due to be delivered in Spring 2019. The set, numbered S13, will be used to test new technologies to be implemented on future Shinkansen trains, such as new dampers to reduce vibration and the likelihood of being derailed during earthquakes. The official design of the ALFA-X was unveiled on 3 October 2018; the train was complete by April 2019. The train was first showcased to the media on 9 May 2019.
The train carries out its tests mainly on the Tōhoku Shinkansen during the night when no business trains are running, with testing carried out from May 2019 to March 2022; the train remains in service as a test train and is not used in revenue service. It most often runs at night and occasionally in the day. The train hit a speed record of 382 km/h (237 mph) on 27 October 2020 on a test run with the press present.
Running schedules for S13 are not made public.
==Specifications==
In terms of appearance, the ALFA-X appears to be a spiritual successor to the Fastech 360S set that was tested from 2005 to 2009. The set, similar to the Fastech 360S, also will evaluate two end car profiles; one streamlined and one arrowhead-shaped. It has a nominal top speed of 400 km/h (248.5 mph).
The sets has two types of low-profile pantographs. The train features eddy current brakes and air brakes on the roofs. The nose of car 1 is 16 metres (52 ft 6 in) long and is of a brand new design, while car 10 features a 22 mm (72 ft 2 in) long nose. The different nose profiles on car 1 and car 10 were designed to compare air resistance and tunnel boom. Car 10's nose was designed to minimize noise. Each passenger car prototype has different window shapes to test wind resistance for each type of design.
The set has a number of unannounced technical features; JR East does not intend on releasing information on some of these features in an attempt to avoid sharing their research.
==Gallery==
ALFA-X S13 10 2023.jpg|Set S13 in July 2023 with car 10 leading
ALFA-X Impression.jpg|Initial artists' impression
ALFA-X Impression.png|Final artists' impression
ALFA-X Bodyshell 2019.png|Incomplete bodyshell of car 10 at Hitachi's Kasado Plant in February 2019
ALFA-X Bodyshell 2018.jpg|Incomplete bodyshell of car 1 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries's Kobe Plant in December 2018
ALFA-X S13 Sendai Publicity Car 1.jpg|Publicity photo with car 1 leading
ALFA-X S13 Sendai Publicity Car 10.jpg|Publicity photo with car 10 leading
==References==
*https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/japanrailway/20230413/2049126/
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Locomotives
Category:Prototype locomotives
Category:Unique locomotives
Category:Hitachi locomotives
Category:Kawasaki locomotives