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The member companies of Japan Railways are constantly improving rail service for their millions of passengers by introducing new amenities on trains, increasing service, adding new facilities in stations and expanding information for travelers. In addition JR is always working to make the rail system responsive to the ecological and energy needs of a new century. Read below for some of the changes that may make your rail travel in Japan even more convenient and comfortable.
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Past News: July - September 2007
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| Sep 1, 2007 - JR WEST: ICOCA CARD EXPANDS TO OKAYAMA AND HIROSHIMA |
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Over the past months we have reported many exciting changes in the use of IC ‘smart card’ in Japan. On Saturday, 1 September, the use of West Japan Railway (JR West) ‘s ICOCA card will expand to cover the major cities of Okayama and Hiroshima as well as the JR local service between them. At present the ICOCA card covers local trains in the broad Kansai region: Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and many other places. The addition of Okayama and Hiroshima means that local rail all along most of the Sanyo line is now included. And remember that the East Japan Railway (JR East) ‘s Suica card can also be used in JR lines in ICOCA region
> See details |
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| Aug 8, 2007 - JR EAST: EVEN MORE DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE JR EAST PASS |
On 30 April of this year we reported that any travel agency could sell the JR East Pass if they had a link to a GDS ticketing system. Now, as of Monday, 20 August 2007, any travel agent can also sell the JR East Pass by using the AccesRail’s “RailNet” page. This means that the pass will be available at thousands of more locations around the world. Agents using this web site will be able to print the Exchange Voucher of JR East Pass for you on ordinary printer paper. If your agent is not familiar with this site, please have them go to this page.
Please note that this applies only to the JR East regional rail pass, not to the nationwide Japan Rail Pass or to other regional passes. Agents can also sell the JR East Pass Special (limited 3-day discount pass) via this page.
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| Jul31, 2007 - JR EAST : WORLD’S FIRST HYBRID TRAIN NOW IN SERVICE |
On 30 April of this year we reported on East Japan Railway (JR East)’s diesel hybrid vehicle. Beginning Tuesday, 31 July this Kiha E200 is in regular operation on the JR East Koumi Line, not far from Tokyo. This line is typical of non-electrified rural lines where the hybrid-type train will be of great benefit in protecting the environment. The Koumi Line is a popular tourist line connecting Kobuchizawa and Komoro. For those who are interested in trying out this train you can reach it using the Nagano Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sakudaira Station on the Koumi Line or by taking a Limited Express on the Chuo Line from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to Kobuchizawa Station.
The train will be operating four or five times a day as of 1 August in each direction. The trains on this line do not all travel the entire route so check on schedule if you want to try the train. In September the service will be expanded to more daily trains as well as special weekend service, but the exact schedule has not yet been determined. The Kiha E200 holds great promise for safeguarding the environment in JR East’s scenic rural areas.
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See more technical details
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| Jul 27, 2007 - JR EAST: INCREASING SPEED ON THE SHINKANSEN |
Since 2005 East Japan Railway (JR East) has been testing a faster Shinkansen test train, the FASTECH 360, with the goal of improving service for their passengers. JR East has set four goals to reach with this new train: greater speed of course, but also complete reliability, full respect for the environment, and more comfort for their passengers. JR East’s success with this project has now brought them to a point where they are looking to put this prototype system into actual manufacture.
The first step will be the production of a 10-car train set which will reach the highest speed yet within Japan: 320 km/h (almost 200 miles/h). In addition to increased speed, this train will seek to accomplish the other goals listed above.
Meeting environmental issues:
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It will be a long-nosed head car type |
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It will have lower frame covers, sealed between-car passages, and reduced-noise pantographs |
Improved performance with high reliability:
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Better main circuit sysrtem, pantograph and brake equipment |
Improved comfort for passengers:
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All cars will have full active suspension
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Tilt action will make passengers feel more comfortable on high-speed curves |
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| In order to assure our passengers of a pleasurable ride JR East will use a mock-up test model to fully research passenger comfort issues. |
This new Shinkansen service is designed for service on the extended Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Aomori (the new Shin-Aomori Station) in 2010. The prototype will be put into mass production for this new service, but the exact number of train sets and the precise speed will be decided only after further testing. In addition, JR East is still investigating the on-ground measures necessary to deal with environmental issues such as noise pollution.
> See technical details[PDF/214KB] |
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| Jul 1, 2007 - JR CENTRAL & JR WEST: DEBUT OF THE SERIES N700 ON THE TOKAIDO AND SANYO SHINKANSEN
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With the timetable revisions on July 1, 2007 of the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, the Series N700 will commence operations as the “Nozomi” with 8 departures per day. Through the introduction of the Series N700, the journey between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka will be shortened by a maximum of five minutes from the travel time of 2
hours 30 minutes to 2 hours and 25 minutes. In addition, Central Japan Railway (JR Central) and West Japan Railway (JR West) plan to introduce a total of 23 train sets in FY 2007 and a total of 54 train sets by the end of
FY 2009. |
From July 1 onwards, the number of Series N700 train sets operated as “Nozomi” will be increased to over 30 by the end of FY 2007 and are scheduled to be used for all “Nozomi”s with services directly linking the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen sections by the end of FY2009.
JR Central and JR West have been conducting running tests on the Series N700 using a pre-mass production train set since April 2005. The Series N700 will cut the journey time by introducing the body inclining system which enables the maximum speed at curves on Tokaido Section to be increased. Along with starting new services that introduce the latest technology, the Series N700 will offer an “even more comfortable interior space” that meets the various needs of passengers.
- Characteristics of the Series N700 -
[Fastest cutting-edge rolling stock]
- Maximum speed
270km/h for the Tokaido Shinkansen section and 300km/h for the Sanyo Shinkansen section
- Body inclining system
In the first application on the Shinkansen, the system allows traveling at a maximum speed of 270km/h at curves, currently subject to speed restrictions. (Tokaido Shinkansen section
- Improved acceleration performance
The time required to reach the maximum speed of 270km/h has been dramatically reduced from 300 seconds for the Series 700 to 180 seconds for the Series N700.
[Superior comfort]
- Enhancing riding comfort
Riding comfort has been improved by installing various new systems such as the high performance model of the semi-active suspension system on all cars.
- Quiet passenger cabin
The Series N700 is the first Shinkansen to feature cover-all hoods, achieving external noise reduction and vestibule quietness.
- Improved passenger comfort
The Series N700 features a range of innovative technologies for on-board comfort, such as the latest air-conditioning system and ergonomically optimized seat design. Furthermore, all seats are non-smoking, and smoking rooms have been added onboard. It provides onboard space that meets the various needs of customers such as the expansion of multipurpose rooms/multipurpose toilets and the installation of power outlets for PCs on all Green Car seats and for approximately half of the seats in regular cars.
[Greater environmental compatibility]
- Light weight rolling stock and noise reduction
The Series N700 adopts the latest technologies, such as cover-all hoods between cars and mechanisms reducing undercarriage noise. From the perspective of countering global warming, the cars have been designed to reduce weight by methods such as employing lighter interior fittings and reducing the amount of on-board wiring.
- Energy conservation
The Series N700 has reduced energy consumption by 19% despite having 30% greater power output than the Series 700 by introducing the latest and refined technologies such as technologies to reduce running resistance and lightweight technology.
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