N700S Series Shinkansen

The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability operated by JR Central and JR West on the Tokaido and San'yō Shinkansen lines since 2020, and JR Kyushu on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line since 2022. A variant, the N700ST, will be exported to Taiwan for use on the Taiwan High Speed Rail system starting in 2027.

History In June 2016, JR Central announced plans to build a new prototype 16-car trainset, the N700S (with "S" standing for "Supreme"), to evaluate new technologies and features on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines starting in March 2018.

Developed from the earlier N700A series (itself a refinement of the N700 series), the N700S incorporates several new features. Refinements to the ATC and braking systems enable emergency braking distances to be reduced by 5%, improving safety during events such as earthquakes. The traction system uses silicon carbide components, and combined with a new aerodynamic design, reduces power consumption by approximately 7%. Toshiba SCiB LTO batteries allow the train to operate at low speed during power disruptions, enabling it to move to a safe location for passenger evacuation and maintain essential functions such as toilets.

An optimized underfloor equipment layout makes it possible to use the same standard design for 16-car Tokaido Shinkansen trainsets as well as 12-, 8-, and 6-car configurations, improving flexibility for potential export.

Green cars feature a fully active damping control system to improve ride quality, while ordinary-class cars provide AC power outlets at every seat. Additional improvements include larger luggage storage areas, more CCTV cameras, an upgraded intercom system, and softer, more relaxing interior lighting.

In 2021, the N700S was awarded the Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club.

JR Central A 16-car prototype set (J0), assembled at the Nippon Sharyo Toyokawa plant, was unveiled at JR Central's Hamamatsu depot on 10 March 2018. From 20 March, this set was used for testing and evaluation. High-speed trials at the design speed of were conducted during 2019 on the Tokaido Shinkansen, reaching a maximum speed of . This is faster than the fastest speed ever achieved by the N700A, and may indicate plans to raise the maximum operating speed on the line.

The first full-production J set (J1) was delivered to JR Central in April 2020, with trains entering revenue service on 1 July 2020.

JR Central announced in May 2022 that it would add 19 trainsets (304 vehicles) to their current N700S fleet at a cost of 114 billion yen ($897m). The first two of these trainsets are scheduled to enter service in 2023, with seven trainsets delivered in 2024 and 2025, and three more delivered in 2026.

In June 2024, JR Central announced that the Doctor Yellow inspection trains would be replaced by stock-standard N700S trainsets with special monitoring equipment from 2027. These sets, named "Doctor S", will begin testing in October 2026.

In January 2026, JR Central announced that they would begin to introduce private rooms on N700S trains starting in October 2026. Two private rooms will initially be offered on selected services, each seating one or two passengers. The rooms will be priced higher than green car seats. It will mark the first time that private rooms will be available on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen since the retirement of the 100 Series Shinkansen in 2003. JR Central has also planned to introduce semi-private rooms in fiscal year 2028.

JR Kyushu , the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen is operated by a fleet of five 6-car JR Kyushu N700S series trainsets.

For the commencement of the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, four 6-car N700S series trainsets were ordered by JR Kyushu. Nicknamed "Kamome", these entered service in September 2022. Two trains are required during the day, with three trains in operation in the afternoon/evening. One train is kept as a spare.

In August 2023, another 6-car set was delivered to allow for one train to be out of service during regular inspections.

Operations The first N700S sets replaced 700 series trains, and added more rolling stock needed to realize the increased amount of services on the Tokaido Shinkansen planned from 2020. The N700S series is expected to gradually replace N700 series sets on the Sanyo, Tokaido, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. A 6-car variant started operations on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen on 23 September 2022.

The train is also planned to run on the proposed Texas Central Railway high-speed line connecting Dallas and Houston.

Variants

N700S series: 50 ⨯ 16-car "J" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from 1 July 2020 N700S-3000 series: 5 ⨯ 16-car "H" sets owned by JR West, introduced from 13 March 2021 N700S-8000 series "Kamome": 5 ⨯ 6-car "Y" sets owned by JR Kyushu on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, introduced from 23 September 2022

16-car J sets

The J sets were the first to be introduced, and include the pre-series J0 set used for testing between 2018 and 2020.

Formation The 16-car J sets are formed as follows.

Car no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Designation Tc M2 M'w M1 M1w M' M2k M1s M's M2s M'h M1 M1w M' M2w T'c Numbering 743 747 746-500 745 745-300 746 747-400 735 736 737 746-700 745-600 745-500 746-200 747-500 744 Seating capacity 65 100 85 100 90 100 75 68 64 68 63 100 90 100 80 75 Facilities Toilets   Toilets, smoking room Telephone Toilets   Toilets, smoking room Conductor's office Toilets, telephone Smoking room Toilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose room Telephone Toilets   Toilets, smoking room, telephone  

Fleet list , the JR Central N700S series 'J' set fleet is as follows.

Set no. Manufacturer Date delivered Remarks J0 Hitachi/Nippon Sharyo 25 March 2018 Pre-series set J1 Nippon Sharyo 14 April 2020Fiscal 2020 batch J2 Hitachi 16 June 2020 J3 Nippon Sharyo 20 May 2020 J4 Hitachi 9 September 2020 J5 Nippon Sharyo 23 June 2020 J6 Hitachi 30 November 2020 J7 Nippon Sharyo 26 August 2020 J8 2 October 2020 J9 11 November 2020 J10 Hitachi 11 January 2021 J11 Nippon Sharyo 19 December 2020 J12 Hitachi 23 February 2021 J13 Nippon Sharyo 3 April 2021Fiscal 2021 batch J14 Hitachi 11 May 2021 J15 Nippon Sharyo 23 May 2021 J16 Hitachi 10 July 2021 J17 Nippon Sharyo 3 July 2021 J18 3 September 2021 J19 1 October 2021 J20 Hitachi 1 November 2021 J21 Nippon Sharyo 12 November 2021 J22 Hitachi 14 December 2021 J23 Nippon Sharyo 7 January 2022 J24 Hitachi 1 March 2022 J25 Nippon Sharyo 15 February 2022 J26 1 April 2022 J27 Hitachi 19 April 2022Fiscal 2022 batch J28 Nippon Sharyo 20 May 2022 J29 Hitachi 24 June 2022 J30 Nippon Sharyo 8 July 2022 J31 24 August 2022 J32 4 October 2022 J33 Hitachi 8 November 2022 J34 Nippon Sharyo 18 November 2022 J35 Hitachi 20 January 2023 J36 Nippon Sharyo 11 January 2023 J37 Hitachi 6 March 2023 J38 Nippon Sharyo 20 February 2023 J39 Hitachi 18 April 2023 J40 Nippon Sharyo 5 April 2023J415 March 2024Fiscal 2023 batchJ4222 March 2024J4324 May 2024J44Hitachi9 July 2024J45Nippon Sharyo17 July 2024J4628 August 2024Fiscal 2024 batchJ47Hitachi22 October 2024J48Nippon Sharyo15 November 2024J4924 January 2025J507 March 2025J51Hitachi18 April 2025J52Nippon Sharyo9 May 2025J53Hitachi10 July 2025Fiscal 2025 batchJ54Nippon Sharyo19 September 2025J55Hitachi3 October 2025J56Nippon Sharyo17 February 2026J5726 March 2026J58Hitachi29 May 2026J5931 July 2026Fiscal 2026 batchJ60Nippon Sharyo6 August 2026J61Hitachi25 September 2026

16-car H sets (N700S-3000 series) These are 16-car N700S series sets owned by JR West and classified as N700S-3000 series sets.

Formation The 16-car H sets are formed as follows.

Car no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Designation Tc M2 M'w M1 M1w M' M2k M1s M's M2s M'h M1 M1w M' M2w T'c Numbering 743-3000 747-3000 746-3500 745-3000 745-3300 746-3000 747-3400 735-3000 736-3000 737-3000 746-3700 745-3600 745-3500 746-3200 747-3500 744-3000 Seating capacity 65 100 85 100 90 100 75 68 64 68 63 100 90 100 80 75 Facilities Toilets   Toilets, smoking room Telephone Toilets   Toilets, smoking room Conductor's office Toilets, telephone Smoking room Toilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose room Telephone Toilets   Toilets, smoking room, telephone  

Fleet list , the JR West N700S series 'H' set fleet is as follows.

Set no. Manufacturer Date delivered Remarks H1 Hitachi 3 February 2021Fiscal 2020 batch H2 Nippon Sharyo 17 March 2021 H3 Hitachi 27 July 2023Fiscal 2023 batch H4 Nippon Sharyo 17 December 2023H511 September 2024Fiscal 2024 batchH6Hitachi20 October 2025Fiscal 2025 batchH710 March 2026H8Nippon Sharyo13 June 2026

Gallery Exterior

Interior

6-car Y sets (N700S-8000 series)

These are 6-car N700S series sets owned by JR Kyushu and classified as N700S-8000 series sets. Five sets provide service on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen.

The design of the variant was done by Eiji Mitooka, who had previously designed several trains for JR Kyushu. He could not make any modifications to the exterior shape or equipment. He sought to make the ride "more fun and relaxing" through the inclusion of colors and shapes to the train's design. He presented JR Kyushu with four livery concepts, with a red and white one being chosen. Headlights were given black outlines and the center of the nose was painted black in order to have the front of the train resemble a face. The interior is also decorated with illustrations made by Mitooka.

These sets do not feature Green Car (first class) accommodation. In regular service, cars 1-3 are reserved seat cars, and cars 4-6 are non-reserved seat cars. Seats on cars 1–3 are arranged in four wide (2+2) abreast configuration instead of a five wide (2+3) configuration seen in normal reserved cars of JR West and JR Central N700S variants, and similar to reserved seat cars on JR Kyushu's N700 series sets. This was done to make the Shinkansen more attractive to tourists.

Formation The 6-car Y sets are formed as follows.

Car no. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Designation M'wc M2 M1h M1 M2w M'cClassReservedReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved Numbering 721-8000 727-8000 725-8000 725-8100 727-8100 722-8100 Seatingcapacity 40 76 42 86 86 61 Facilities Wheelchair space Toilets, multi-purpose room

Interior

Fleet list , the JR Kyushu N700S series 'Y' set fleet is as follows.

Set no. Manufacturer Date delivered Y1Hitachi 1 June 2022 Y2 1 June 2022 Y3 1 July 2022 Y4 1 September 2022Y5Hitachi 5 October 2023

Overall fleet history The annual totals for the fleet sizes (number of vehicles as of 1 April each year) are as follows.

Year JR Central JR West JR Kyushu Total 2018 16 0 0 16 2019 16 0 0 16 2020 16 0 0 16 2021 208 32 0 240 2022 432 32 0 464 2023 608 32 24 664

Derivatives In March 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail announced it will purchase 12 new 12-car trains based on the N700S at a cost of approximately NTD 28 billion to supplement its older THSR 700T sets. These will be manufactured by an alliance of Hitachi and Toshiba.

In August 2025, these new trains were officially designated as the N700ST series. The first set of the new trains is expected to arrive in Taiwan in August 2026 and revenue service is scheduled to start in the second half of 2027.

Taiwan received its first Japan-built N700ST Shinkansen on August 15, 2026, when all 12 carriages were unloaded from a cargo vessel at a port in Kaohsiung, south-western Taiwan. The train has a white exterior marked by distinctive orange and black stripes. The arrival marks the first of 12 N700ST trainsets ordered by Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation, with each set comprising 12 carriages. They are due to enter service progressively from July 2027 and are expected to increase capacity during peak periods by 25%.

See also

List of high-speed trains

References