500 Series Shinkansen

The 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 1997. They were designed to be capable of but operated at , 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 and .

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 . 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 designing the train's front to mimic the shape of a kingfisher's beak.

6-car 500-900 WIN350 set

"WIN350" was the name given to the 500-900 series (500系900番台) 6-car experimental high-speed Shinkansen train developed in 1992 by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan to test technology to be incorporated in next-generation shinkansen trains expected to operate at speeds of 350 km/h (217 mph) from 1994. Initially given the designation "500X", the name "WIN350" stood for "West Japan's Innovation for operation at 350 km/h".

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 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 or as substitutes for the 700-7000 series.

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 Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Designation Mc M1 Mp M2 M' M1 Mp Ms2 Ms M1s Mpkh M2 M' M1 Mp M2c Numbering 521-xx 526-xx 527-xx 528-xx 525-xx 526-xx 527-4xx 518-xx 515-xx 516-xx 527-7xx 528-7xx 525-xx 526-xx 527-xx 522-xx Seating capacity 53 100 90 100 95 100 75 68 64 68 63 100 95 100 90 63

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

Interior

8-car V sets (500-7000 series)

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)."Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō" magazine February 2008 issue, p74 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 .

Formation , the fleet consists of six eight-car sets (V2–V4, V7–V9) formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata end.

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Designation Mc M1 Mp M2 M M1 Mpkh M2c Numbering 521-70xx 526-70xx 527-70xx 528-70xx 525-70xx 526-72xx 527-77xx 522-70xx Formerly 521 (car 1) 526 (car 2) 527 (car 3) 528 (car 4) 525 (car 13) 516 (car 10) 527-700 (car 11) 522 (car 16) Seating capacity 53 100 78 100 95 68 51 63

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.

Future plans In announcement made on 14 February 2024, JR West outlined plans to retire four of the six remaining 500 series sets from revenue service by the end of 2026. The plan is to shorten four existing 16-car N700 series sets into eight-car sets to replace the 500 series sets. On 24 July 2024, JR West announced plans to retire the last two 500 series sets by 2027. On 22 June 2026, JR West announced that the last sets would end commercial operation on 13 January 2027, with complete retirement happening later in July that year.

Special liveries

500 Type Eva On 7 November 2015, set V2 began operating 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. Set V2 was then transformed to the Hello Kitty Shinkansen in June 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.

Interior

Hello Kitty In March 2018, JR West announced the launch of a special "Hello Kitty" themed 500 series train on Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama services. The train, set V2 which formerly ran in the "500 Type Eva" livery, entered service on 30 June 2018. It is scheduled to operate until the middle of 2026. On 16 January 2026, JR West announced that the last day of the "Hello Kitty" Shinkansen will take place on 17 May of that year.

Preserved examples

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.

The Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion franchise would feature the 500 series as one of its many titular mecha. In addition to the standard livery, the Evangelion and Hello Kitty-wrapped versions also appeared in both the toyline and anime.

The anime Transformers: Robots in Disguise features the Autobot character Railspike, who transforms into a 500 Series Shinkansen.

500 Series Shinkansen

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