N700系新幹線 N4編成 のぞみ35号 博多行き グリーン車の座席

Date: Friday, 4 June 2010

This was the date when I first rode on a Shinkansen "NOZOMI" train for my 15th birthday. I had always wanted to take a "NOZOMI" train since I first went there in September 2001. As I know Japan very well and can speak Japanese, I am able to ride on a train by myself. This was part of my birthday trip to Kobe, a port city near Osaka. My family followed behind on a Shinkansen "HIKARI" train between Tokyo and Shin-osaka, Osaka's Shinkansen Station.

Currently, the rolling stock for "NOZOMI" trains consists of the 300, 700, and N700 Series Shinkansen trains. The 500 Series Shinkansen was introduced on "NOZOMI" services on March 22, 1997, making it the first train to reach 300 km/h in Japan. However, the 500 series trains were retired from "NOZOMI" services on February 28, 2010. Currently, the only rolling stock I used when I first rode on a "NOZOMI" train was the new N700 Series Shinkansen.

The "NOZOMI" is the fastest train service running on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines in Japan. It runs at a top speed of 300 km/h, with speed restricted to 270 km/h on the Tokaido Shinkansen.

On the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, "NOZOMI" and "MIZUHO" trains cannot be used by tourists using the Japan Rail Pass. A Japan Rail Pass holder using a "NOZOMI" or "MIZUHO" train must pay the basic fare and the Shinkansen express charge, as well as the Green Car surcharge when using a Green Car seat.

"NOZOMI" services started on March 14, 1992, using 300 series trainsets. From March 13, 1999, 700 series trains were introduced on these services between Tokyo and Hakata. On July 1, 2007, N700 series trains were introduced to these services.

Today, "NOZOMI" trains using the new N700 Series Shinkansen is becoming very common. The 300 series and 700 series train sets still appear on "NOZOMI" trains, but only on additional train services or a few regular services.

With the introduction of the 700 series in 1999, and the N700 series trains in 2007, JR Central began to retire their 300 series train sets in July 2007. JR West began to retire their 300 series train sets in July 2011. To replace these 9 sets of 300 series trains, JR West will purchase 9 16-car 700 series train sets from JR Central in 2011. JR Central's 300 series trains are expected to retire completely on 16 March 2012. All 300 series train sets are expected to be retired from Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen services by mid-2012.

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Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• N700系新幹線
• N700系3000番台
• N4編成
• JR西日本
• JR東海東海道新幹線
• 山陽新幹線
• のぞみ35号
• グリーン車