Fastech 360

Class E954 "Fastech 360 S"
Class E955 "Fastech 360 Z"
Class E954 "Fastech 360 S"; Class E955 "Fastech 360 Z"
	The Fastech 360S train (stream-line end) at Omiya Station, May 2008
In service	2005–2009 (fastech 360 S); 2006–2008 (fastech 360 Z)
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Constructed	2005 (fastech 360 S); 2006 (fastech 360 Z)
Scrapped	2008 (fastech 360 Z); 2009 (fastech 360 S)
Number built	8 vehicles (Fastech 360 S); 6 vehicles (Fastech 360 Z)
Number in service	None
Number preserved	1 vehicles (Fastech 360 S); None (Fastech 360 Z)
Number scrapped	7 vehicles (Fastech 360 S); 6 vehicles (Fastech 360 Z)
Formation	8 cars (Fastech 360 S); 6 cars (Fastech 360 Z)
Fleet numbers	S9 (Fastech 360 S); S10 (Fastech 360 Z)
Operators	JR East
Lines served	Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Nagano Shinkansen; Akita Shinkansen (Fastech 360 Z)
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Maximum speed	360 km/h (225 mph)* (nominal); 130 km/h (80 mph)* (Akita Shinkansen)(Fastech 360 Z)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC, 50 Hz (Fastech 360 S); 25/20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Fastech 360 Z)
Current collector(s)	Overhead catenary
Track gauge	1435

Detail of signature air brakes in deployed state

Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed trains developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock. The name is a portmanteau of Fast, Technology, and 360 km/h (360 km/h or 224 mph), the target operational speed for production trains based on the new technologies. Speeds of up to 405 km/h (251.7 mph) were targeted during performance testing.^[1] Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series and E6 series trains, entering revenue service from 2011, eventually operating at 320 km/h (198.8 mph).

There were 2 trains:

Class E954 Fastech 360S: 8-car set for use on Shinkansen tracks only
Class E955 Fastech 360Z: 6-car set for use on both Shinkansen and Mini-shinkansen lines

Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking plates like that of an aircraft, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of Nekomimi Shinkansen (猫耳新幹線), which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the subsequent E5 series or E6 series trains.

Class E954 Fastech 360S

This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by Hitachi Ltd., and cars 4 to 8 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.^[2]

Car E954-1 has a stream-line profile, reminiscent of the 500 series, and E954-8 has an arrow-line profile more reminiscent of the JR East E2 series and E4 series designs.^[3]

The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped.^[4]

Formation

E954-1 (T1c)
E954-2 (M1) (with pantograph)
E954-3 (M2) (with toilet)
E954-4 (M2)
E954-5 (M1s)
E954-6 (M2)
E954-7 (M1) (with pantograph)
E954-8 (T2c)

Class E955 Fastech 360Z

This 6-car set (S10) was delivered on 6 April 2006. Cars 1 and 4 to 6 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and cars 2 and 3 were built by Hitachi Ltd.^[5] The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.^[2]

Formation

E955-1 (M2c)
E955-2 (M1s)
E955-3 (M1) (with pantograph and toilet)
E955-4 (M1)
E955-5 (M1) (with pantograph)
E955-6 (M2c)

References

^ "FASTECH 360 High-Speed Shinkansen Test Train to Debut". 9 March 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
^ ^a ^b JR電車編成表 2009夏. Japan: JRR. June 2009. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
^ プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. OCLC 170056962.
^ JR電車編成表 2010夏. Japan: JRR. May 2010. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
^ JR電車編成表 '07冬号. Japan: JRR. December 2006. p. 12. ISBN 4-88283-046-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

External links

Press release from JR East Template:En icon
A bullet train... only with ears (BBC News)
JR East press release: "新幹線高速試験電車 FASTECH 360 まもなくデビュー" Template:Ja icon
新幹線高速試験電車E955形式（FASTECH360Z）の概要 Template:Ja icon
Class E954 "Fastech 360 S" (Japan Railfan Magazine Online) Template:Ja icon
Class E955 "Fastech 360 Z" (Japan Railfan Magazine Online) Template:Ja icon

[jrtechrev-1] "FASTECH 360 High-Speed Shinkansen Test Train to Debut". 9 March 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2009.

[jrr2009-2] JR電車編成表 2009夏. Japan: JRR. June 2009. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

[prototype2005-3] プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. OCLC 170056962.

[jrr2010-4] JR電車編成表 2010夏. Japan: JRR. May 2010. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

[jrr2007-5] JR電車編成表 '07冬号. Japan: JRR. December 2006. p. 12. ISBN 4-88283-046-9. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)

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