Shinkansen Series 500 Experience

[johnson1095]

i wish i could ride one :[

[Steez51]

Its an experience everyone should have. 180mph in silent comfort. They even sell beer and snacks on the train.

[AF401]

If 500 series is the 2nd fastest Shinkansen, so which is the 1st then...

[hokumura]

@AF401,

At the time I uploaded this video, JR East's Series E2 had already marked 362km/h in testing, that was the fastest.

[AF401]

@hokumura ah, ok. but has been series 500 in high speed test? if so how much did.

PS: not talking about WIN 350. which did 350,4 because that was a prototype for series 500.

now the fastest prototype is Series 300X which did 443km/h and there's a video here on youtube.

cheers ^_^

[racsito39]

As maps google, one way ticket in "JR新幹線ひかり532号" is 13,220 円. I wonder how expensive is that for the average Japansese worker.

[hokumura]

@racsito39,

Most Japanese people think Shinkansen ticket prices are reasonable.

Tokaido Shinkansen (between Tokyo and Osaka) runs every 5 minites in peak hours and every 8 minutes off peak. Usually most trains carry passengers more than 80% of its capacity (except Kodama trains). A 16-car rolling stock's capacity is about 1,300. This means about 12,000 passengers travel per hour in peak hours who agreed to pay 13,000 Yen for one way. This is a prove, I think.

[t3hwasabi]

@IchBinSchonQuasiTot The initial prototype for the 500 series was designed by a German design firm I believe. :)

[EpicureMammon]

I'm glad that we don't have high speed trains in the US. They're commie and... um... liberal... or something.

*cries*

[hokumura]

@IchBinSchonQuasiTot, Thanks for comment.

I am a fan of any railway travel so that I love to ride ICE as well as Shinkansen trains. But I have never gotten chance to go Germany yet. As for trains in EU area, I have rode U.K. InterCity trains, France's TGV and Euro Star. I like InterCity that isn't such fast (200km/h max or like that) but comfortable and cheap to ride.

I hope to have chance to ride ICE someday.

[AmolGaitonde]

The Japanese are the Creators of Marvels, Marvelous people! I wish to travel by these trains,

[hokumura]

@AmolGaitonde Thanks for a comment. Even series 500 trains had retired from Tokaido (Tokyo - Osaka) Shinkansen line, you can still enjoy some of the leading edge trains such as N700 on Tokaido Shinkansen line and series E5 "Hayabusa" on Tohoku (Tokyo - Aomori) Shinkansen line. Series E5 will debut March 5, 2011 which will run at 320km/h.

[lilblake90]

@hokumura which is fun considering today is march 3 XD

[MegaRoutier]

What a speed....

[Trainfan1055]

If you type in "Bullet Train" on Bing Translator, it translates as "Shinkansen". So, "Shinkansen must mean "Bullet Train".

[dumkopf]

@Trainfan1055 Actually "Shinkansen" translates as "new main (train)line "

[brainysnaeha]

I think the 500 series is the best and also the best looking shinkansen ever!

N700 is looks rather ugly.

If i go to japan now i'll be only ride the N700.

[luckystrke]

nice,, that IS fast

[emforty2]

how advance a certain nation or people is by looking at the mode of transportation they use and what they are developing for the future.

while most of us are stil slaves to our cars spending our saturday morning weekends at the auto shop for an oil change or car wash instead of enjoying our day off.

[hokumura]

Thank you.

[deadeviltimothy666]

Sigh ... One thing I don't wanna see the modification of the W1 train. I hope JR West keep the W1 train as the only 16-car of the 500 Series fleet ...

One thing you forgot to mention. The 8-car (so called V-Series) will only run up to max 285km/h instead of 300km/h.

Once the Kyuushuu-Shinkansen Extension complete, JR West begin the process of the withdrawal of 100 Series.

[hokumura]

Thanks for correcting me. Yes the max speed of 8 car 500 series train is 285km/h.

I agree to your opinion about W1 train. It is a kind of industrial heritage which government should be responsible to keep it in the original figure.

[AF401]

@hokumura W1 Train is special since that trainst has engines with more power then the rest 8 trainsets W2 to W9

[pdutube]

Oh man it moves so fast it looks like a special effect! It's like NASCAR developed public transportation. Awesome!

[hokumura]

Of course, it's not a special effect.

Series 500 cars will retire very soon (early next year, Feb. 2010) from Tokaido line, but you can take other type of Shinkansen trains (Series N700, etc) which also run as fast as 270km/h. Trains run as frequent as 8 departs per hours average or 12 departs per hours in peak hours. Taking 270km/h train is very common experience for ordinary Japanese people.

[pdutube]

I love this train! I have to ride this train!!!

[orlandoracer407]

cant wait until its built in Florida 2014

[johnjay8]

japanese and germans build the best trains , shinakensen and ice 3 best in world ! i love technology

[andersonczemis]

it's very quiet inside, and beautiful like a new airplane!

nice video, 5 stars!

[TheJamieAndJoeShow]

未来の電車！

The train of the future!

[hokumura]

Yes! Looks like so! The style of the series 500 train is like a running jet liner.

But unfortunatelly, this train is old... Debut in 1997, it has already ran for more than 10years. Series 500 will retire soon (Mar. 2010) from Tokaido Shinkansen line and becamse a part of history. In other words, the train of the past.

May survive in Sanyo Shinkansen line with modified 8 car configuration. This year is the last chance to ride this train with original 16 car configuraiton.

[alexrm82]

@hokumura

excuse me: why will series 500 retire soon?? Ok, it's 10 years old, but there are some other Shinkansen series (100, 300, etc) older, and the 0 serie retired just a year ago after 40 years of service!!!

So...why should the 500 Serie be retired so early?

[hokumura]

It is said that JR Tokai (railway company who runs Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Osaka) want to regularize all of their fleet to minimize recovery from any delay occasion. When delay occured (by accident, weather condition or any) they adopt recovery plan which usually includes replacing cars.

Assume there is a train whose expected (scheduled) start time from Tokyo is 11:00am and cars are in series 700. (cont.)

[hokumura]

When it delayed to 11:30am and they can only make series 300 cars available at the time at the station, they have to replace cars to series 300. It is easy because the seat layout is exactly the same between series 300, 700 and N700, so that they don't have to re-issue reserved seat tickets. But series 500 are the only exception. (cont.)

[hokumura]

JR Tokai want to stop this. After series 500 retires, all trains in Tokaido Shinkansen line are 16 cars config and have exact the same seat layout. (cont.)

[hokumura]

This is only for JR Tokai and Tokaido Shinkansen line. JR West has much more variety of Shinkansen cars (they still operate 25 years old series 100) and will operate shortened (8 car config) series 500 even after Mar. 2010 in Sanyo Shinkansen line (between Osaka and Hakata). (cont.)

[hokumura]

Their difference of attitude for old cars are caused by the extreme difference of frequency of running trains. At peak time, JR Tokai operates Shinkansen trains every 3 minutes, and the difficulty of recovery plan is fatal. It kills series 500 from Tokaido Shinkansen line. (end.)

[hokumura]

Sorry, I skipped one paragraph (between 2 and 3):

Due to its super long nose styling, series 500's seat layout is bit different from other series of trains especially car No. 1 and No. 16 (both end of train). When it happens to change cars between series 500 and others, JR Tokai allocate some station workers to each train door to find affected passengers then explain and re-issue reserved seat tickets. (cont.)

[alexrm82]

@hokumura: if I understand well 500 series will be cut from Tokaido line but they will remain on Sanyo line, right?

[hokumura]

Right. But all trains re-configure to shorter 8 car configuration and run as "Kodama" type service which stops all stations (means, slowest train... Still rapid as 300km/h between stations, but...).

We will never seen original 16 car config series 500 trains after Mar. 2010. sigh...

[alexrm82]

I think it would have been more rational to use those trains, at least, in Hikari services and not just Kodama services...

[hokumura]

And... he had gone. Feb. 28, 2010 was the last day of series 500 in 16 cars train configuration. We will never seen him at Tokyo station.

[LouAu]

Forget it.... North American people refused to attempt these technology. They accept automobile only!!!

[EAFSQ9]

@Villejean:The French TGV has less capacity compared to the Japanese Shinkansen.The E4 Max shinkansen in a 16 car configuration can carry up to 1,634 passengers.Compare that to the 301 of the TGV in a 16 car config.

[hashmal1212]

The riding comfort of TGV of our country is very bad. Shinkansen was very quiet

and comfortable.

[t3hwasabi]

I'm Japanese and I've been on both the shinkansen and TGV. TGV was faster and cooler to look out the window, but as you said, it was a bit of a rough ride. Took it from Paris-Gare de Lyon to Aix-en-Provence.

[dancthegr]

@hashmal1212 go on the train of Angleterre then you will realise that french trains aren't bad at all

[takamimusubi111]

Other than its speed as #2, Shinkansen's punctuality is worth a respect, every train's punctuality is recorded at checkpoints set every few Kms and compared w/published time tables w/in 15 seconds of the Coodinated JST. Shinkansen's schedule is quite tight; during peak time, upto 12 train's departs fr Tokyo Terminal. New N700series accelerates quikest caoable of reaching max speed 270km/h on Tohkaidoh Line in 3 minutes. And...

[Klibbnisse]

I also read somewhere that the average time difference in Shinkansen's time schedule is +- 7 seconds and the death toll about 0... during all the years it's been in service.

Quite impressive indeed.

[EAFSQ9]

The shinkansen has had 0 fatalities and also, no train leaves later than 35seconds.

[bonjour82]

I've taken the Hayate shinkansen 4 or 5 times from Hachinohe to Tokyo. It is punctual to the second. It doesn't matter if your looking at your cell phone time or the time at the train station, the train will start moving at the exact time at every station. I know I can tell my friends what time I'll see them, instead of arriving at my destination 4-8 hours late on Amtrak in the U.S.

[alexrm82]

The normal TGV trainsets (and not the modified ones) can go at a max speed of 320 km/h. The JR500 can go at a max speed of 300 km/h.

I don't see a great difference.

[Timei]

Nice video!

[finkledo]

I like this video alot. Great job on choice of music! I want to go to Tokyo now :D

[UrsusArctosT34]

This video is very nice, thanks so much for making it! I'd love to go on a Shinkansen some day.

[UrsusArctosT34]

How much in advance do you have to buy a ticket for a green or reserved seat? Do the tickets get sold out long before the train arrives? And are flights between cities more expensive than going on a Shinkansen?

[hokumura]

Generally, you can buy ticket at the same day of

boarding, or a day advance, that's enough. In

most Cases, you can buy just a minute advance.

Especially, green car seats are expensive so that

day time train's green car seat tickets are rarely

sold out.

[hokumura]

Exceptions are 3 peak weeks and late evening trains. 3 peak "volkerwanderung" seasons of Japan are: - Year end / New Year (Around Dec. 29 through Jan. 5 depend on each year's calender.) - So called "Golden Week" (Apr 30 through May 5 and connected weekends) - Summar holiday season (especially a week around Aug 15) These weeks are completely different. You have to reserve your seat 2 month in advance.

[hokumura]

Late evening trains (depart 5:00pm or later) are

convenient and efficient for return travel, so

these trains' seats are sometimes sold out 3 or 4

days advance. Especially Sunday night trains are

crowded.

[hokumura]

Regular price of airplane tickets are expensive

than Shinkansen, but discout tickets are common

for airplane tickets while it's not common for

Shinkansen tickets. You may have to compare

discount air vs. regular Shinkansen prices. Which

is expensive? It depends on many factors and can't

be easily said, so you have to ask more specific,

for example which exact city you will depart and

arrive.

[UrsusArctosT34]

Thank you very much! I'll keep all that in mind...particularly the information on the holiday seasons.

[Drewster327]

Lucky, when i visited japan, i only got to ride in the 300 series, but i saw a lot of the 700's, only a couple 500's, but i was praying i would get a 500, those are TIGHT!

[eyesofvenus]

if you had the rail pass and were going from shin-osaka onwards towards hakata(fukuoka) and got on the hikari rail star you would have been on a 700 series...

[overblast0000]

N700 might not look as good, but its much more comfy.

[hayate29]

this train will disappear in this year from Tokaido shinkansen

[WerderThaigerIsBack]

why will it disappear? i think the Nozomi is much prettier than the 700 and the 800 series.

[hayate29]

you know, 500 nozomi's car is very round and smaller than the other shinkansen trains. some passengers feel oppressed by the small car.

[WerderThaigerIsBack]

oh :-(

those passengers should use a different train then. i want my nozomi :-(

[hayate29]

and, take the place of the 500 nozomi, the new shinkansen 'N700'(i think 'N' means 'New')comes on! but its face is very ugly. i prefer 500 to N700, of course.

[WerderThaigerIsBack]

yea. im from germany, we got the ICE here and the Transrapid maglev. unfortunately, our government is too stupid to buy the maglev. they will have built one in 2011 but it takes such a long time. if i were the president of germany I'd build Nozomis and Transrapid everywhere.

[POON3345]

Japanese high speed train. The 500 series was built in 1997 just 33 years after the first shinkansen.

[fabianfred537]

thank you.... worth every penny... and not as expensive as I thought it would be!

[fabianfred537]

how many kilometers was your journey, and how much did it cost in $US...?

[hokumura]

According to JTB timetable, it's about 484km from

Kyoto to Shin-Yokohama. The train runs this

section only at 2 hour and 1 minutes. Max speed in

this section is 270km/h, but average speed is

still as high as 242km/h! (with one, Nagoya,

stop.)

[hokumura]

It costs (per person oneway):

12,080 Yen (about US$105.00-)

without seat reserved,

12,890 Yen (about US$112.00-)

with 2nd class ("Ordinary cars") seat reserved, or

17,530 Yen (about US$152.50-)

with 1st class ("Green cars") seat reserved.

[hokumura]

The train has 16 cars, including 3 Green cars,

3 ordinary cars for non-reserved passengers, and

10 reserved seat cars. As this figure shows, most

people buy ordinary (2nd class) reserved seat

ticket, and it is most recommended.

[hokumura]

You can take the train, even if you don't reserved

a seat and there are no spare seats in "cars for

non reserved passengers", but you have to stand in

the car all the way in your travel...

[hokumura]

Reserved seat ticket costs only 800 Yen much than

non reserved seat ticket, it worth to buy. The

price gap between non-reserved and reserved (800

Yen = peak rate) is seasonal variation, sometimes

500 Yen (regular rate) and sometimes 300 Yen (off

peak rate).

[hokumura]

1st class cars has some bit more space for each

person. Bit wider seat, bit longer pitch, but it

doesn't worth for the cost gap (about 5,000 Yen =

US$43.50-)

[Arado16]

awesome train

[jandrork]

really nice!

[hokumura]

Thank you.