Shinkansen class E956
| Shinkansen Series E956 (ALFA-X) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Number: | 1 (prototype) |
| Manufacturer: | JR East |
| Year of construction (s): | 2018 |
| Gauge : | 1435 mm ( standard gauge ) |
| Top speed: | 400 km / h |
| Power system : | 25 kV 50 Hz ~ |
| Power transmission: | Overhead line |
The Shinkansen series E956 ( Japanese 新 幹線 E956 系 電車 , Shinkansen E956-kei densha ) is an experimental Japanese high-speed train from JR East , which will be used for test runs on the Tōhoku and Hokkaidō Shinkansen route from spring 2019 . The E956 series is called ALFA-X markets, an acronym for " A dvanced L abs for F rontline A ctivity in rail e X perimentation".
history
The development of the ALFA-X test vehicle was officially announced by JR East on July 4th, 2017. JR East announced that the vehicle will be delivered in the spring of 2019, followed by extensive high-speed tests on Tōhoku and Hokkaidō Shinkansen. JR East estimates around 10 billion yen (approx. 73 million euros ) for the development and testing of the vehicle . The prototype was presented to the public on May 9, 2019 and began test drives on May 16, 2019.
technical features
The experimental ALFA-X Shinkansen is to be operated at a top speed of up to 400 km / h in order to test new technologies that will later be incorporated into the development of series vehicles, which will run at 360 km / h on the Tōhoku and at 260 km / h on the Hokkaidō Shinkansen should be operated. This increase in speed compared to the 320 km / h of the current E5 and H5 series would reduce the travel time between Sapporo and Tokyo to around 4 hours.
Various new technologies will be used in the ALFA-X to improve safety, noise protection and comfort. So z. B. tested new types of dampers that should minimize the risk of derailment in the event of an earthquake . When designing the car body, particular care is taken to ensure that as little snow as possible can collect, as there is heavy snowfall in Hokkaidō in winter.
As with the FASTECH 360 , the multiple unit made up of ten cars will have two differently designed end cars with which measures to minimize the tunnel bang are to be tested. Car 1 (oriented towards Tokyo) will have a similar design to the E5 series, although the nose of the vehicle will be extended from 15 to 16 meters. The nose of car 10 (facing towards Sapporo), on the other hand, will be significantly longer at 22 meters and have a more complex shape. This design is at the expense of the internal capacity, but should lead to significantly better noise and energy consumption values.
Like the FASTECH test trains, the E956 series will have air brakes that can be folded out in an emergency.
Various innovations in the E956 series are also being tested in the field of vehicle maintenance. A large number of sensors will be used that continuously collect data on the condition of individual components and thus, unlike the previous period-based maintenance, allow condition-based maintenance.
Individual evidence
- ↑ JR East to build ALFA-X 360 km / h Shinkansen testbed. Railway Gazette, July 7, 2017, accessed January 1, 2018 .
- ↑ Long-nosed prototype of 'world's fastest bullet train' ALFA-X unveiled in Japan. The Mainichi, May 10, 2019, accessed June 26, 2019 .
- ↑ JR East shinkansen ALFA-X prototype hits 320 kph in test run in northeastern Japan. The Japan Times, May 16, 2019, accessed June 26, 2019 .
- ↑ Japan tests the next generation bullet train eyeing the 360km / h target. Smart Rail World, July 10, 2017, accessed January 2, 2018 .
- ↑ 次世代 新 幹線 の 実 現 に 向 け た 試 験 車 両 の 新造 に つ い て. (PDF) JR East, July 4, 2017, accessed January 2, 2018 .
- ↑ a b 400 km / h ALFA-X experimental train to roll in 2019. Railway Gazette, October 4, 2018, accessed December 9, 2018 .