The N700 series (N700系, Enu nanahyaku-kei) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines since 2007, and is operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen line.

Quick Facts In service, Manufacturer ...

N700 series
N700 series set F20 on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, September 2021
In service	1 July 2007; 16 years ago (2007-07-01) – Present
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo
Replaced	300 series, 500 series,[1] 700 series
Constructed	2005–2020
Scrapped	2019–
Number in service	2,624 vehicles (179 sets) (as of 1 April 2022[update])
Number preserved	3 vehicles (N700-9000 series)
Number scrapped	13 vehicles (N700-9000 series); 352 vehicles (22 sets. of which, 1 due to fire damage)
Successor	N700S Series Shinkansen
Formation	16 cars per trainset (8 cars per trainset for N700-7000/8000)
Capacity	Tokaido/Sanyo 16-car sets (F, G, K/N, X/Z): 1,323 (200 Green + 1,123 ordinary) Sanyo/Kyushu 8-car sets (R, S): 546 (24 Green + 522 ordinary)
Operators	■ JR Central ■ JR Kyushu ■ JR-West
Depots	Tokyo, Hakata, Osaka, Kumamoto
Lines served	Kyushu Shinkansen, Tōkaidō Shinkansen, San'yō Shinkansen, Hakata-Minami Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	25 m (82 ft 0 in) (intermediate cars) 27.35 m (89 ft 9 in) (end cars)
Width	3.36 m (11 ft 0 in)
Height	3.6 m (11 ft 10 in), (middle cars and connectors of end cars) (without rooftop equipment) 3.5 m (11 ft 6 in) (end cars excluding connector with middle cars)
Maximum speed	285 km/h (177 mph) (Tokaido) 300 km/h (186 mph) (Sanyo) 260 km/h (162 mph) (Kyushu)
Weight	715 t (16-car set)[2]
Traction motors	56 x 305 kW (409 hp)
Power output	17.08 MW (22,905 hp)
Acceleration	2.6 km/(h⋅s) (1.6 mph/s)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 60 Hz AC catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
UIC classification	2'2'+14*Bo'Bo'+2'2' (N, Z and G sets) 8*Bo'Bo' (R and S sets)
Braking system(s)	Pneumatic, regenerative
Safety system(s)	ATC-NS, KS-ATC (R and S sets only)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
This train won the 51st Blue Ribbon Award in 2008.

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N700 series trains have a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph), and tilting of up to one degree allows the trains to maintain 270 km/h (168 mph), even on 2,500 m (8,202 ft) radius curves that previously had a maximum speed of 255 km/h (158 mph). Another feature of the N700 is that it accelerates more quickly than the older 700 series Shinkansen trains, with a maximum acceleration rate of 2.6 km/h/s (0.72 m/s²). This enables it to reach 270 km/h (170 mph) in only three minutes. Further advancements led to the development of the N700A, an incremental evolution of the N700. N700A trains can reach 285 km/h (177 mph) on 3,000 m (9,843 ft) curves, allowing the maximum operating speed on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to be raised to 285 km/h (177 mph). All N700 series sets have been retrofitted with most of the improvements added to the N700A series, and are now classified as "N700A".

Because of these improvements, trains can travel between Tokyo and Osaka on a Nozomi run in as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes on the fastest service (8 minutes faster than before).

A new train, the N700S, entered service in 2020 with plans to eventually replace all N700-series trains. The first four sets began operation on 1 July 2020.

N700 series trains gradually replaced 300, 500 and 700 series sets on Nozomi services, and by the end of February 2009, the N700 series were responsible for 74 Nozomi services per day.^[3] All Nozomi through runs (over the full route between Tokyo and Hakata) were scheduled to use the N700 series exclusively by 2009. From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, all regularly scheduled Nozomi services, including runs limited only to the Tokaido Shinkansen, were operated by N700 series sets.^[4]

Since 4 March 2017, the N700 is also used on regularly scheduled Hikari services during the day, as well as all Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen, since March 2020.

Since March 2009, the N700 series trains have been equipped with wireless internet available for use between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.^[5]

• N700-0 series: 80 x 16-car "Z" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from 1 July 2007 and all converted to N700-2000 series "N700A" by August 2015
• N700-1000 series "N700A": 51 x 16-car "G" sets owned by JR Central, introduced from 8 February 2013
• N700-2000 series "N700A": 80 x 16-car "X" sets owned by JR Central, modified from original "Z" sets between 2013 and 2015
• N700-3000 series: 16 x 16-car "N" sets owned by JR-West, introduced from 1 July 2007 and all converted to N700-5000 series "N700A" by March 2016
• N700-4000 series "N700A": 24 x 16-car "F" sets owned by JR-West, introduced from December 2013
• N700-5000 series "N700A": 16 x 16-car "K" sets owned by JR-West, modified from original "N" sets from October 2013
• N700-7000 series: 19 x 8-car "S" sets owned by JR-West, introduced from 12 March 2011
• N700-8000 series: 11 x 8-car "R" sets owned by JR Kyushu, introduced from 12 March 2011
• N700-9000 series: Prototype 16-car set Z0 owned by JR Central, later redesignated X0 and retired in 2019

The N700-1000 series, or "N700A" (with "A" standing for "Advanced"), is a new version of the N700 series design delivered from August 2012, and entering revenue service from 8 February 2013.^[8]

The new version is externally identical to the existing N700 series sets, with the addition of new "N700A" logos on each odd-numbered car.^[9] The new trains include modified brake discs, bogie vibration detection, and ATC improvements.^[10]

Six "G" sets were scheduled to be introduced during fiscal 2012, replacing older 700 series sets, with seven more sets introduced during fiscal 2013.^[11] A further 18 sets are on order by JR Central, to be delivered six sets per year between fiscal 2014 and 2016 at a cost of 88 billion yen.^[12] In October 2015, JR Central announced that it had ordered a further 20 N700A series sets to be delivered between fiscal 2016 and 2019, replacing all of the remaining 700 series trains sets on Tokaido Shinkansen services.^[13]

The first set, G1, was delivered to Hamamatsu in August 2012, with test running commencing on the Tokaido Shinkansen the following month.^[14]

• Logo on the side of car 9, February 2013

• 81 x 16-car sets, X0–X80 (converted from N700-0 series)

These are former N700 series Z sets modified between 2013 and August 2015 to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Cars are renumbered in the -2000 subseries, with the exception of set X0, which is still numbered in the -9000 subseries. The sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos.^[16] The prototype 16-car train (Z0) was delivered in March 2005 for extensive testing and endurance running. Cars 1 to 4 were built by Hitachi, cars 5 to 14 were built by Nippon Sharyo, and cars 15 and 16 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.^[17] It was initially fitted with two auxiliary headlights located below the nose.^[18]

The first full-production Z set (Z1) was delivered to JR Central in April 2007, and trains entered revenue service on 1 July 2007, with eight daily Nozomi service runs. The final Z set, Z80, was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in February 2012.^[19]

From fiscal 2013, the fleet of Z sets underwent modifications to incorporate some of the improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "X" sets, with cars renumbered in the -2000 subseries. The modified sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos.^[16] The first original "Z" set, set Z65, was modified to become set X65 in May 2013, with the last original "Z" set, set Z4, modified to become set X4 in August 2015.^[15]

The prototype set Z0 was used as a JR Central test train with cars numbered in the -9000 series, and was not used in revenue service. It was renumbered set X0 in 2014, but the car numbers remained in the -9000 subseries.^[8] The set was officially withdrawn from service in February 2019.^{[citation needed]}

Withdrawals of N700 series X sets commenced in July 2020, beginning with set X12.^{[citation needed]}

• The modified logo on the side of set X6, August 2013

This section needs to be updated. (April 2020)

These are N700A series sets owned by JR-West and classified N700-4000 series, with one set (set F1) delivered in November 2013 and entering revenue service from 8 February 2014.^[8] A further four sets were delivered each in fiscal 2015 (sets F2 to F5) and fiscal 2016 (sets F6 to F9),^[21] followed by three in fiscal 2017 (sets F10 to F12), five in fiscal 2018 (sets F13 to F17), and seven in fiscal 2019 (sets F18 to F24).^[22]

• 16 x 16-car sets, K1–K16 (Converted from N700-3000 series)

These are JR-West trainsets modified from October 2013 from former N700 series N sets to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets.^[24]

• 19 x 8-car sets, S1–S19

The N700-7000 series variant are 8-car sets operated by JR-West on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Ōsaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on the Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011.^[25] The pre-series set (S1) was delivered to Hakata Depot in October 2008. These trains do not feature the tilting mechanism of the earlier N700 trains, as they do not run on the Tokaido Shinkansen.^[26]

External livery is shiraai (白藍) pale blue intended to evoke the colour of traditional porcelain with indigo and gold bodyside lining.^[25]

Full-production JR-West sets were delivered to Hakata Depot from early April 2010.^[27] The final S set, S19, was delivered to Hakata Depot in February 2012.^[19]

• 11 x 8-car sets, R1–R11

These are eleven 8-car N700 series sets operated by JR Kyushu alongside JR-West N700-7000 series "S" sets on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on the Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011.^[8] External livery is identical to the N700-7000 series "S" sets.

The first set, R1, was delivered to Kumamoto Depot in July 2010.^[28] Test running on the unopened section of the Kyushu Shinkansen began on 31 August 2010.^[29]

This was a proposed export version of the N700 series design announced by JR Central Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai at an international high-speed railway symposium held in Nagoya on 16 November 2009.^[31] Nominally specified as an 8-car set with a maximum operating speed of 330 km/h (205 mph), the train can be configured in lengths from 6 to 16 cars to suit customer requirements.^[32][33]

The same model was being considered in the developing Houston–Dallas Texas Central Railway, before focus shifted to the N700S due to its inherently modular construction, and higher top speed.^[34]

On 16 November 2009, JR Central conducted a late-night high-speed demonstration run using N700 series trainset Z0, recording a maximum speed of 332 km/h (206 mph) on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Maibara and Kyōto. The high-speed run was conducted as a demonstration for approximately 160 international guests attending a high-speed railway symposium in Nagoya.^[35][36]

The annual totals for the fleet sizes (number of vehicles as of 1 April each year) owned by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu are as follows.^[18]

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

On display at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, from 17 July 2019:^[42]

• 783-9001 (ex-prototype set X0, built 2005 by Hitachi)
• 775-9001 (ex-prototype set X0, built 2005 by Nippon Sharyo)
• 786-9201 (ex-prototype set X0, built 2005 by Nippon Sharyo)

• List of high-speed trains