[HD] The bullet train N700 series "HIKARI"

The bullet train N700 series "HIKARI"

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Japan
• railway
• bullet
• train
• NOZOMI
• N700
• のぞみ

[Quasi84]

Tilting has nothing to do with speed, it's all about comfort.

[ks3298]

I make a few preliminary remarks, but please understand that I don't know about situation of tilting trains in Europe.

In Japan, tilting system is mostly used for speed. Because Japanese railways have meny steep gradients and sharp curves.

The principle is the same that how motorcycles turn.

The first tilting express train in Japan made a sacrifice of fomfort for speed, so conductor had to have a medicine to motion sickness lol

(381 series, almost retired)

[ks3298]

On the sharpest curves (Radius: 2,500m) in the Tokaido shinkansen line, the speed limit of other shinkansen series is 255km/h.

But only N700 series can runs at 270km/h with tilting system.

[Quasi84]

@ks3298 What I mean is that the train doesn't tilt to increase the speed of the train. Imagine a tilting freight train. That would be pointless! That's what I'm trying to say.

The tilt is there for comfort. Tilting makes higher speeds more comfortable.

Of course the speed is higher in curves thanks to tilting but an empty train can go at the same speeds with the tilting turned off because no comfort is needed in an empty train. The driver might feel a bit uncomfortable but it can be handled.

[Quasi84]

@elfabyanos What I mean is that the train doesn't tilt to increase the speed of the train.

Imagine a tilting freight train. That would be pointless! That's what I'm trying to say.

The tilt is there for comfort. Tilting makes higher speeds more comfortable.

Of course the speed is higher in curves thanks to tilting but an empty train can go at the same speeds with the tilting turned off because no comfort is needed in an empty train. The driver might feel a bit uncomfortable but it can be handled.

[elfabyanos]

@Quasi84 comfort is why there is a speed limit in a curve. If the passengers feel uncomfortable at more than 250km/h in a curve the train is not allowed to go any faster through the curve, even if it is technically possible for it to do so. The use of a tilt mechanism allows the passengers to experience less lateral acceleration through the curve, allowing the train to go faster with the same level of comfort. Same in Europe as Japan.

[Quasi84]

The only thing that tilts is where the people are. The rest of the train do not tilt at all. The bogies still have to withstand the same physical forces, tilting or no tilting.

[Quasi84]

Keep in mind that comfort is very important. Driving through a curve at high speed will make the passengers spill out their coffee and nasty things like that.

That's why tilting is used to enable higher speeds.

The trains themselves can drive a lot faster without tilting but comfort is important. No one wants to travel with a train that push you against the walls in every curve.

So tilting is about comfort. Curves have speed limits but comfort is pushing it even further down.