N700S Series Shinkansen

The N700S series (N700S系) 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.

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

Developed from the earlier N700 series design, the new train incorporates a number of new features. Refinements to the ATC and braking systems enable shorter braking distances in emergencies such as earthquakes. The traction system uses silicon carbide components, and uses 7% less power than the N700A series. Toshiba SCiB LTO batteries are installed so that the train can operate at low speed in the event of a disruption to overhead power, as well as keep toilets in operation.

Optimized underfloor equipment layout allows the same standard design to be used to easily produce 12, 8 and 6-car trainsets in addition to the Tokaido Shinkansen 16-car trainsets. This optimization was intended to make the train more flexible for possible export.

Green cars use active suspension to further improve ride quality, and ordinary-class cars have AC power outlets for each seat. Other features include larger luggage storage, closed-circuit television and "softer, more relaxing" interior lighting. In 2021, the train was awarded the Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club.

Future plans
In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines would be abolished by Q2 2024.

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 360 km/h were conducted during 2019 on the Tokaido Shinkansen, reaching a maximum speed of 363 km/h. This is 28 km/h 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.

JR Kyushu
For the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen, four 6-car N700S series trainsets were ordered by JR Kyushu. Nicknamed "Kamome", these entered service in September 2022.

Taiwan High Speed Rail
On March 15, 2023, Taiwan High Speed Rail announced it will purchase 12 new trains consisting of 12 cars each to replace its older THSR 700T sets. These will be manufactured by an alliance of Hitachi and Toshiba.

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: 40 x 16-car "J" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from 1 July 2020
 * N700S-3000 series: 3 x 16-car "H" sets owned by JR West, introduced from 13 March 2021
 * N700S-8000 series "Kamome": 4 x 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.

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

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.

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. Four 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 6-car sets are completely mono-class without 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 Shinkansen variants. This was done to make the Shinkansen more attractive to tourists.

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

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