500 Series Shinkansen

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox train

The Template:Nihongo is a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in Japan on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen line from 1997 until 2010, and the San'yō Shinkansen line since 2008. They were designed to be capable of Template:Convert but operated at Template:Convert, until they were retired from the primary *Nozomi* service in 2010. The trainsets were then refurbished and downgraded to the all-stations *Kodama* service between Template:STN and Template:STN.

## Overview

The general design concept was overseen by German industrial designer Alexander Neumeister. The running gear utilizes computer-controlled active suspension for a smoother, safer ride, and yaw dampers are fitted between cars for improved stability. All sixteen cars in each original trainset were powered, giving a maximum of Template:Convert. Each train cost an estimated 5 billion yen, and only nine were built. It used biomimicry to reduce energy consumption by 15%, increase speeds by 10% and reduce noise levels while increasing passenger comfort. This was done by making the train's front have the shape of a kingfisher's beak.

## 6-car 500-900 WIN350 set

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Main article: WIN350
This was a prototype for the Series 500.

## 16-car W sets

First announced by JR-West in September 1994, the first set was delivered for testing in 1995, entering passenger service in March 1997. The entire fleet of nine sets was delivered by 1998. It was the first Shinkansen train in Japan to operate at a maximum speed of Template:Convert in regular passenger service. Besides the premium *Nozomi* services, 16-car trains were also used on *Hikari Rail Star* services during the busy holiday periods.

With the steady increase in the number of N700 Series Shinkansen since 2007, the 500 series were gradually retired from the *Nozomi* services. The last 500 series *Nozomi* run took place on 28 February 2010.

### Formation

Cars 8 to 10 were "Green" (first class) cars. Cars 5 and 13 each had one "T"-style current collector.

### Interior

500 Series Shinkansen inside.jpgStandard-class car interior viewBlue Seat of JR 500.JPGStandard-class seatingGreen Car's Seat of JR 500.JPGGreen car seating
## 8-car V sets (500-7000 series)

 File:JRW-500 V2 inHimeji.jpg  Eight of the original nine 500 series sets were modified and shortened to eight cars between 2008 and 2010, and were cascaded to Sanyo Shinkansen *Kodama* workings, replacing the earlier 0 series sets (V2 to V9). The first reformed eight-car set was unveiled to the press on 28 March 2008, and the trains entered service on twelve daily *Kodama* runs from 1 December 2008.

The maximum operating speed of these trains has been reduced to Template:Convert.

### Formation

Template:As of, the fleet consists of six eight-car sets (V2–V4, V7–V9) formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata end.Template:Unreliable source?

Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.

### Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of 3+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with 2+2 abreast seating in car 6 (former Green car). Between October and December 2013, cars 4 and 5 are also scheduled to have the original seating removed and replaced with new 2+2 abreast seating, the same as used in the *Hikari Rail Star* 700 series trainsets.

All passenger saloons on the 8-car 500 series trains are no-smoking, with new smoking compartments installed in cars 3 and 7. Cars 1, 3, 5, and 7 are equipped with toilets.

JRW series500 ordinarycar-inside (Non-Reserved seat).JPGNon-reserved seating car in May 2012JRW series500 ordinarycar-inside (Reserved seat).JPGReserved seating car (car 6) in May 2012JRW series500 smokingroom.JPGSmoking compartment in car 7 in May 2012JR West 500 giziuntendai2.jpgMock-up of the driver's cab in an 8-car 500 series trainset
## Special liveries

 File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA in Himeji.jpg
### 500 Type Eva

Since 7 November 2015, set V2 runs in a special "500 Type Eva" livery as part of the "Shinkansen:Evangelion Project" tie-up project to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen and the 20th anniversary of *Neon Genesis Evangelion*. Initially planned to operate until March 2017, this livery was extended until 13 May 2018. From 24 February until 7 May 2018, the 500 series car preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery.Template:Additional citation needed

EVA521-7002.JPG521-7002 (Car 1)EVA526-7002.JPG526-7004 (Car 2)EVA527-7002.JPG527-7003 (Car 3)EVA528-7002.JPG528-7002 (Car 4)EVA525-7002.JPG525-7004 (Car 5)EVA526-7202.JPG526-7202 (Car 6)EVA527-7702.JPG527-7702 (Car 7)EVA522-7002.JPG522-7002 (Car 8)
#### Interior

JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 526-7004 inside.jpgThe interior of car 2 in March 2016JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 526-7004 waitingseat.jpgSeats in car 2 designated for passengers waiting to use car 1JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 521-7002 inside Evangelion cockpit.jpgThe Evangelion cockpit mockup in car 1
### Hello Kitty

 File:JRW-500 V2 20180701 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg  In March 2018, JR West announced the launch of a special "Hello Kitty" themed 500 series train on Sanyo Shinkansen *Kodama* services. The train entered service on 30 June 2018.

JRW-500 V2 521-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg521-7002 (Car 1)JRW-500 V2 525-7004 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg526-7004 (Car 2)JRW-500 V2 527-7003 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg527-7003 (Car 3)JRW-500 V2 528-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg528-7002 (Car 4)JRW-500 V2 525-7004 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg525-7004 (Car 5)JRW-500 V2 526-7202 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg526-7202 (Car 6)JRW-500 V2 527-7702 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg527-7702 (Car 7)JRW-500 V2 522-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg522-7002 (Car 8)
## Preserved examples

 File:Shinkansen Series 500 car 521-1 at the Kyoto Railway Museum.jpg   File:Shinkansen Series 500 522-1 in Hitachi.jpg  As of 2023, two 500 Series cars have been preserved, both from the same set. Car 521-1, formerly the front car of set W1, is preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum, which opened in April 2016. This car was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery between 24 February and 7 May 2018. Car 522-1, formerly the end car of set W1, is preserved at the Hitachi Rail Kasado factory in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi, in Autumn 2015.

## In popular culture

The 500 Series Shinkansen served as basis for Liner Gao in Japanese mecha anime series *The King of Braves GaoGaiGar*.

## External links

Template:Commons category

* JR-West 500 series *Kodama* Template:In lang
* Nippon Sharyo information Template:In lang

Template:Shinkansen Template:High-speed rail Template:JR-West rolling stock

1. ↑ Template:Cite book
2. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
3. ↑ Warson, Skipper Chong (2 January 2018). Looking deeper into biomimicry: how nature inspires design.
4. ↑ Template:Cite book
5. ↑ Template:Cite news
6. ↑ Template:Cite book
7. ↑ "Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō" magazine February 2008 issue, p74
8. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). West Japan Railway (17 October 2008).
9. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). West Japan Railway (2009).
10. ↑ 山陽新幹線500系7000番台編成表 - JR編成表、配置表.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Template:Cite book
12. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). *Yomiuri Online*. The Yomiuri Shimbun (26 August 2013).Template:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore
13. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). *Press Release*. West Japan Railway Company (22 November 2013).
14. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). *Japan Railfan Magazine Online*. Koyusha Co., Ltd. (8 November 2015).
15. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specifiedSasaki, Yasuhiro (16 September 2016). (ja). *Mynavi News*. Mynavi Corporation.
16. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). *Tetsudo Hobidas*. Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. (19 January 2018).
17. ↑ Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters **url** and **title** must be specified (ja). Koyusha Co., Ltd. (2018-03-23).
18. ↑ Hello Kitty bullet train to debut on Sanyo Line this summer. The Japan Times (15 March 2018).
19. ↑ Hello Kitty bullet train to debut in Japan on June 30. The Japan Times (18 May 2018).
20. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
21. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
22. ↑ Abe, Ryutaro (19 February 2018). Evangelion bullet train to go on show in Kyoto rail museum. The Asahi Shimbun.
23. ↑ MECHANICS (ja) (6 June 2023).