1JR EAST Technical Review-No.36

Special feature article

The history of Shinkansen rolling stock for JR East started with the series 200 Shinkansen, which debuted at the opening of the Tohoku/Joetsu Shinkansen in 1982 in the Japanese National Railway era. It was initially a 12-car all motor car train with a maximum operating speed for 210 km/h.

The Shinkansen network spreading out in five directions later came to have a variety of forms of operation (Fig. 1); and even after the series 200, Shinkansen rolling stock conforming to those forms of operation and with increased speeds was developed. In addition to the standard type of Shinkansen dedicated rolling stock, others appeared such as rolling stock for through service between Shinkansen and conventional lines to Akita and Shinjo and double deck rolling stock for large-volume short-distance transport. A variety of services came to be provided as well, such as GranClass providing a higher level of service and fun-to-ride “Toreiyu” and “Genbi Shinkansen” (Fig. 2).

The Shinkansen, handling long-distance transport, has been forced to compete with airlines and others with the expansion of the Shinkansen network. In order to have customers choose the Shinkansen, we need to think up how to make it more attractive and amenity-rich. We need to make the Shinkansen something people want to ride by means such as shortening travel time to customers’ destinations by increasing speeds, improving amenity with better ride comfort and comfortable cabin environments, and providing functional services according to individual customers’ demands.

Looking at high-speed railway trends around the world, we see that many countries have achieved commercial operation in excess of 300 km/h, and Italy has announced further speed increases with a goal of 360 km/h commercial operation. And for JR East to transfer high-speed railway technologies abroad, we need to accumulate technologies for high-speed running in order to maintain competitiveness.

In the midst of this situation, JR East is constantly developing Shinkansen rolling stock systems utilizing new technologies in order to provide comfortable, safe, and highly reliable Shinkansen rolling stock that will please customers.

JR East High-speed Rolling Stock Development

Koji AsanoDirector of the Advanced Railway System Development Center,

Research and Development Center of JR East Group

Introduction1

新潟

Shinjo

Niigata

Yamagata

Tokyo

Sendai

FukushimaTo Kanazawa

Joetsumyoko

NaganoTakasaki

Akita

Morioka

Commercial track Mini Shinkansen

Sapporo

Shin-Aomori

Hachinohe

Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto

Omiya

Ueno

Hokkaido Shinkansen scheduled to open between Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto

and Sapporo in 2030

Hokkaido Shinkansen opened between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate in March

2016 (148.4 km)

Akita Shinkansen (127.3 km)

Joetsu Shinkansen (303.6 km)

Tohoku Shinkansen （713.7 km ）

YamagataShinkansen(148.6 km)

Hokuriku Shinkansen opened between Nagano and Kanazawa

in March 2015（Nagano - Joetsumyoko 59.4 km)

Hokuriku (Nagano) Shinkansen (117.4 km)

Fig. 1 JR East Shinkansen Network

Series E7

Series E2

Series E4

Shinkansen-conventionalline direct service typeStandard type

Double deck type

Series E6

Series E3

Series E5

Toreiyu Tsubasa

GENBI SHINKANSEN

Fun train type

Fig. 2 JR East Shinkansen Rolling Stock

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Special feature article

2.2 FASTECH Project Fig. 4 shows the development concepts for test vehicles in the FASTECH project.

The FASTECH360 trains were developed under the concept of being a “prototype for rolling stock operating at 360 km/h”, a “test platform to identify phenomena when running at high speed” and a “near future comfort mobility space proposal stage”. They are prototype vehicles for verifying technologies ahead of implementation in next-generation rolling stock in service. Two trains were produced: FASTECH360S (hereinafter, the “360S”) exclusively for Shinkansen lines and FASTECH360Z (hereinafter, the “360Z”) for through service on Shinkansen and conventional lines (Fig. 5).

Being test trains, technical development went forward on four technical themes with a goal of maximum commercial operating speed of 360 km/h: Improvement of running speed, ensuring safety and reliability, consideration for the environment, and improvement of passenger comfort.

Wayside equipment was also improved along in line with production of test trains. Running tests were conducted from 2005 to 2009 to comprehensively evaluate and verify rolling stock and wayside facilities in the environment of the target commercial speeds.

This article gives an overview of high-speed rolling stock development up to now and introduces technical development for future Shinkansen rolling stock.

High-speed Rolling Stock Development at JR East2

2.1 History of Development for Shinkansen Speed Increases Increasing the speed of the Shinkansen is a never-ending issue for technical development at JR East. We have overcome this issue, increasing commercial operating speeds, and advanced railway technologies.

Simply running fast is not enough; and in order to achieve safe speed increases with comfort, we have conducted high-speed running tests by a variety of test vehicles (Fig. 3). The series 400 Shinkansen recorded a maximum speed of 345.8 km/h in test runs in 1991, and the STAR21 test train reached 425 km/h in 1993. In the Shinkansen speed increase project (FASTECH), which started in 2002, we developed, tested, and evaluated with the FASTECH360 high-speed test vehicles. The FASTECH project went beyond aiming to achieve maximum tests speeds, having objectives of shorter travel time and top class reliability and comfort for rolling stock in commercial service and of environmental friendliness.

Fig. 5 Shinkansen High-speed Test Trains (FASTECH360)

*FASTECH: Abbreviation for "FASt TECHnology". 360 is target speed in technical development

1988-1991 1991-1998 2002 Project starts→2005-2009 (test runs)

Maximum speed of 345.8 km/h recorded with

series 400 (Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa"

rolling stock)

Maximum speed for high-speed test train of

425 km/h recorded.

Speed increaseTop level reliability, comfort, and harmony with the environment

Fig. 3 JR East Development for Increased Shinkansen Speeds (Test Runs)

Prototype for rolling stockoperating at 360 km/h

Near future comfortmobility space

proposal stage

Test platform toidentify phenomena

when runningat high speed Identify limits and adjust

items to bring about optimum specs for

mass-production vehicles

Design interior space befitting near-future Shinkansen and make proposals inside and

outside the company

Achieve rolling stock that can operate at 360 km/h

Fig. 4 FASTECH360 Development Concept

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Special feature article

2.3 Overview of Major Technical Development 2.3.1 Improvement of Running Speed (Fig. 6)Since current collection devices account for a large percentage of wayside noise made in high speed running, we developed a current collection system with one pantograph per trainset where there were previously two pantographs per trainset. For the pantograph, we developed a new low-noise pantograph that has a “multi-segment slider” made up of many segments that can flexibly follow overhead contact lines by supporting each segment of the slider with springs. This development and factors such as lighter weight and higher tension of contact wires enables extremely stable current collection even in fast running.

In order to achieve stable high-speed running, we have developed many types of high-output compact and light main circuit systems with differing characteristics in their motor system and cooling system. We have also built an onboard information network and equipped trainsets with a car information control unit that transmits control commands and controls devices. Using that, we have been able to make full use of adhesion in the high-speed range for a method of controlling optimal torque and braking distribution based on the axle position in the trainset in case of wheel slip or slide. We have confirmed the effectiveness of that method that can secure accelerating force and braking force for the whole trainset.

2.3.2 Ensuring Safety and Reliability (Fig. 7)In order to handle the increased load on bogies and their components at higher running speeds, we have designed bogies and axles based on data of test vehicles produced in the past and developed new types of basic brakes, axle bearings, drive devices, etc. We also developed a new monitoring system that can detect abnormality in bogie vibration, axle bearings and drive devices in high-speed running. In addition to durability tests at actual loads, we confirmed in running tests high-speed running stability at up to the 400 km/h range. With the 360Z, we verified performance when passing through tight curves on conventional lines.

To ensure safety when running when earthquakes strike, we conducted development for shortening the emergency braking distance and deviation prevention car guides that prevent cars from deviating greatly from the track even in derailment. And in order not to cause increased risk in an earthquake with greater speeds, we have improved the trainset braking force control that makes full use of adhesion of each car of the train as well as braking control in wheel slip or slide. We have also developed an unconventional braking method using equipment for increasing air resistance.

Blocks of snow falling from Shinkansen cars running at high speed can damage wayside equipment and cars. So, to reduce the volume of snow accumulation on cars, we tested items such as bogie structure that is difficult for snow to adhere to and a snow melting heater.

2.3.3 Consideration for the Environment (Fig. 8)Noise control is an important issue for increasing Shinkansen speeds because it is particularly important in Japan to keep down noise along railway lines. The main measures for rolling stock are reduction of noise from pantograph frames as a countermeasure against aerodynamic noise from pantographs, single arm type low-noise pantographs, pantograph noise insulating panels, smooth covers between cars, smoother handles of the cab door, snowplow covers, plug-type doors, countermeasures against bogie cover aerodynamic noise, and development of noise absorptive structures for skirts of the underpart of the car body and the underfloor part. As for wayside spot measures, we have conducted technical development of a new noise barrier that has a higher diffracting attenuation effect by improving the upper part of the barrier.

As countermeasures against tunnel micro-pressure waves that increase as the running speed of the Shinkansen increases, we compared and verified compared two types of long nose shapes and different nose lengths. For wayside improvements, we developed a tunnel entrance hood with ducts and a light-panel tunnel entrance hood to reduce cost.

Pantograph withmulti-segment slider

Synchronous motorwith permanent magnets

Spring

Slider

Securing high-speed currentcollection performance

Improvement ofrunning speed

[ First unit (Car No. 2 and 3) ]

Running wind-cooled andwater-cooled main traction converter

[ Second unit (Car No. 4 and 5) ]

High output, small and light main circuit system

Running wind-cooled main transformer

[ Third unit (Car No. 6 and 7) ]

Cooling fin

Main circuit system characterized by running

wind-cooled and water-cooled main traction converters

Main circuit system characterized by running

wind-cooled main transformer

Main circuit system with a synchronous motor

with permanent magnets

Fig. 6 Overview of Major Technical Development (Improvement of Running Speed)

[Basic brake forhigh-speed running]

Segmentedlining

Center-mountedbrake disc

[Equipment forincreasing adhesion]

Ceramic particle injector

Durability test with actual load

High reliability andlow noise driving device

Axle bearing forhigh-speed running

Ensuring reliability of parts and components for driving system

Improvement of braking performanceand reduction of emergency braking distance

Bogie end cover with snow melting heater

Measures takenin earthquakes

Deviation prevention car guide

Prevention of snowaccretion and fall

Ensuring safetyand reliability

[Equipment for increasing air resistance]

Fig. 7 Overview of Major Technical Development (Ensuring Safety and Reliability)

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Special feature article

2.3.4 Improvement of Passenger Comfort (Fig. 9)In order to reduce horizontal and vertical vibration in high speed running, we made a complete review of the specifications and features of bogies and made many adjustments through running tests. Furthermore, we changed actuators of the active suspension system from air type to electromagnetic direct driven type and roller spring type to improve the response and control characteristics, reducing horizontal vibration.

For better ride comfort in curves, we introduced an air spring stroke type of car body tilting system with a simple structure. This enabled faster speed in curves while controlling excess centrifugal acceleration. And as a way to prevent car body vibration in tunnels caused by aerodynamic excitation in coupled operation, the anti-vibration device control method was improved on for better ride comfort.

Maintaining quietness even in high-speed running is important for passenger comfort. With an aim at achieving a level of quietness where passengers can talk as usual on the train even at 360 km/h, we improved sound insulation of the car body and reduced noise from areas such as air conditioning devices and underfloor devices on FASTECH360 cars. We also developed seats with better ride comfort and easier-to use sanitary spaces.

2.4 Application of FASTECH Development Results to Trains in Commercial Operation

As a result of studying environmental measures and cost performance based on the aforementioned FASTECH360 test results, we set the commercial operating speed of series E5 and E6 rolling stock—successors to the series E2 and E3—at 320 km/h, the fastest in Japan.

Major items applied to series E5 Shinkansen rolling stock as a result of development in the FASTECH project are as follows (Fig. 10).○ Environmental performance

· Long nose shape (nose length of 15 m) lead car· Bogie covers, smooth full covers between cars, low-noise

pantographs○ Improved running performance and ensuring reliability

· Main circuit devices, multi-segment slider pantographs, brake devices

○ Improvement of comfort· Electronic full active suspension (all cars of the trainset)· Air spring stroke type of car body tilting systemWhile the initial target of 360 km/h commercial operation

speed was not quite reached, we achieved rolling stock that met requirements for safety, reliability, and comfort at speeds 45 km/h faster than before. As so, we believe the project has been a major success.

○Environmental performance

○Rolling stock specifications

Trainsets 10 cars (8M2T)

Body Aluminum alloy bodyMax. speed(rolling stockperformance) 320 km/h

Controlsystem

VVVF invertercontrol AC motor

Pre-mass production rolling stock

Smooth full covers between car

Bogie cover Low-noisepantograph

Bogie

ControllerBody

Prevention of vibration by new actuators

Vibrationdetected

Sensor

○ Improved running performance and securing reliability

• Pantograph• Main circuit device• Brake device

○ Improvement of comfort

Better ride comfort in curves by air spring stroke type of car body tilting system

Long nose shape lead car that reduces tunnel micro-pressure waves

Improved ride comfort by equipping all cars of the trainset with electronic full active suspension

Fig. 10 Development Results Applied to Series E5 Shinkansen

[Prevention ofcar body vibration]

[Better ridecomfort in curves]

[Proposal of comfortable moving spacein the near future/Comfortable seats]

Car No. 5 (special car) Car No. 6 (ordinary car,2-2 seat arrangement)

Car No. 7 (ordinary car,2-3 seat arrangement)

Car body with highsound insulation

Improvement inride comfort

Improvement inquietness on train

Electromagnetic actuator

Passenger cabin of FASTECH360S

Ladies-only area

Sanitary space ofFASTECH360S

Passenger cabin of FASTECH360Z

Car No. 12 (special car)

Car No. 13 (ordinary car)

Car No. 15 (meeting space)Active suspension system Car body tilting system

Controller

Improvement ofpassenger comfort

Fig. 9 Overview of Major Technical Development (Improvement of Passenger Comfort)

[Lower noise pantograph]

[Under-floor noiseabsorption structure]

Skirt Bottom sideof equipment

[Smooth cover between cars] (Smoother car body)

[Long nose of lead car (16 m)]

Car No. 8:Arrow-line

Control of tunnel micro-pressure waves

Noise control [Pantograph noise insulating panel]

Singlearm type

Z-shaped noiseinsulating panel (June 2005)

Flat noise insulating panel (April 2007)

[Reduced cross section]Present car(series E2) 11.2 m2

Type 95410.8 m2

Car No. 1:Stream-line

<-shapedarm type

June 2005 April 2007

Consideration forthe environment

Optimized shape of lead car (comparison of two different shapes)

Fig. 8 Overview of Major Technical Development (Consideration for the Environment)

5JR EAST Technical Review-No.36

Special feature article

Technical Development for Next-generation Shinkansen3

3.1 Image of Shinkansen to AchieveAs mentioned in the introduction, it is our mission to make the Shinkansen attractive and comfortable so that it will be chosen by customers. In considering an image of the Shinkansen that will be a successor to the series E5 and E6, the keywords we work with are “safety/stability”, “amenity”, “efficiency”, “environmental performance”, and “intelligence” (Fig. 11).

Achieving safety/stability is the mission of a railway operator in order to allow customers to use it with peace of mind. As such, we aim for resilient railway systems that enable the status of rolling stock and wayside equipment to be identified in real time and that information to be shared and that are not easily affected by external factors. For amenity, we aim for increased convenience of arriving at destinations quicker due to speed increases as well as to provide functional services according to customer demands and a quality cabin space. For efficiency, we aim to reduce maintenance by monitoring and condition-based maintenance (CBM), to reduce costs by best matching equipment and rolling stock, and to streamline equipment. For environmental performance, we aim to maintain and improve the wayside environment in terms of noise and micro-pressure waves and to improve energy conservation performance. In order to achieve those goals, we believe that rolling stock needs to be made “intelligent” by utilizing IoT and AI.

3.2 Issues in Speed Increases and Elemental DevelopmentArriving at the destination quicker is an important element in terms of customer service, and faster speeds will continue to be an issue to pursue. Through R&D in the FASTECH project, we have been able to narrow down issues in aiming for the 360 km/h speed range, but the hurdles to overcome are extremely high for all of those. Those issues cannot be overcome overnight, but we continue to make efforts in R&D based on experience up to now as we aim to make further progress. The following introduces some typical examples.

(1) An important issue brought up in increasing Shinkansen speeds is reducing wayside noise when trains run at high speed. The main sources of noise with the Shinkansen are pantographs and the area around bogies. In reduction of pantograph noise, we investigated through simulations elements causing noise, evaluated shapes to counter those in wind tunnel tests and the like, and investigated means of sound insulation and absorption; and we are proceeding with development of comprehensive sound reduction measures. As for aerodynamic noise from bogie components, we are working to identify sources of sound and investigating countermeasures against that. For aerodynamic noise generated with rotation of brake discs, a particular source of sound around the wheels, we are developing a disc cooling fin shape that reduces noise (Fig. 12).

(2) How to slow down and stop from high-speed running as quickly as possible is an important issue in ensuring safety when earthquakes strike. Currently, trains are only equipped with mechanical brakes (disc, caliper, and lining) that rely on adhesion between wheels and rails, but we are developing non-adhesive deceleration increasing systems to compliment in earthquakes adhesive braking insufficient at high-speed ranges and reduce braking distance. One of those is an “aerodynamic drag plate unit”, which is downsized and distributed equipment for increasing air resistance, nicknamed “cat ears” with FASTECH. Another is a “linear deceleration increasing device” that applies linear technology (Fig. 13).

Aver

age

1/3 octave band center frequency (after scale conversion) [Hz]

Noi

se d

iffer

ence

[dB]

Test results

Bogie model used for tests

Test results (difference with/without presence of opening, static tests)

Noise insulating panel

Pantograph head

(A) Current shape (B) Improved shapeExamples of surface pressure fluctuation

Disc

Traction motorYaw damperGear caseBrake caliperAxle boxWheel

FLOW FLOW

• Identification by simulation, wind tunnel tests, etc. of sources of aerodynamic noise generated under cars and investigation of countermeasures

• Investigate further reduction of current collection noise by noise insulation and absorption

• Development through simulation, wind tunnel tests, etc. of new pantograph that can further reduce aerodynamic noise

• Development of low-noise shape for reduction of aerodynamic noise generated with rotation of brake discs

Center frequency

Noi

se le

vel d

B(A)

All open (standard condition)_100.3 dBAll blocked_77.3 dB

Fig. 12 Wayside Noise Reduction Measures

Utilization of IoT and AIMake rolling stock "intelligent"

AmenityMeeting diverse customer demands

Safety/stabilityParticular attention

Environmentalperformance

Friendly to wayside area and the globe

EfficiencyCost structure reform

Functional service

Quality cabin space

Shorter travel time

Rolling stock/wayside equipment status monitoring

Resistant to natural disaster, snow, and cold

Improved quality of transport

Monitoring and CBM

Best match of equipment and rolling stock

Simplification of equipment

Improve environmental performance

Refine advantage in energy conservation

Fig. 11 Major Characteristics of Next-generation Shinkansen

(1) Aerodynamic drag plate unit(Improvement of FASTECH cat ears

(aerodynamic drag increasing device)

(2) Linear deceleration increasing device(Eddy current deceleration increasing device utilizing linear technology)

Adhesivebrakes

• Aerodynamic drag plate unit• Linear deceleration increasing device• Mechanical brakes

Ensure aerodynamic drag by downsizing and distributingFASTECH360 cat ears aerodynamic drag increasing device)

Image of attachment of aerodynamic drag plate unit

Retracted Deployed

Movable type that only approaches rails when activated(Does not contact rails)

Exterior of linear deceleration increasing device (proposed)

Development of non-adhesive deceleration increasing device

Non-adhesive decelerationincreasing device

0.5 m

1 m

Aerodynamic drag plate unit Drag plateRail Eddy current

AC currentelectromagnet Inverter

Space where installed

Compliment in earthquakes adhesive braking insufficient at high-speed ranges and reduce braking distance, without reducing cabin space

Fig. 13 Reduction of Stopping Distance

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Special feature article

(3) One characteristic of Shinkansen rolling stock operation by JR East is through service between Shinkansen and conventional line sections. Rolling stock for such through service must have high-speed running stability on Shinkansen sections and curve performance on small-radius curves on conventional lines. As maximum running speed on Shinkansen sections increases, it becomes more difficult to maintain performance in both areas. However, we are working to overcome that issue by optimizing bogie specifications such as longitudinal stiffness of primary suspension and yaw damper attenuation (Fig. 14).

Conclusion4

JR East announced its “medium-to-long-term vision for technological innovation” in November 2016. The concept of this vision is to bring about a revolution in mobility by actively utilizing IoT, big data, and AI. Achieving the next-generation Shinkansen we are working on will play a part in this revolution in mobility.

We would like to achieve intelligent Shinkansen rolling stock that utilizes IoT and AI technologies, which are seeing rapid technical advances, and create a Shinkansen that passengers can use safely, comfortably, and with peace of mind. We intend to make that a reality through technical development while performing trail and error in defining and achieving intelligent rolling stock.

Must meet conditions for both Shinkansen and conventional lines, which differ greatly

Longitudinal stiffnessof primary suspension

HardSoft

Dis

tanc

ebe

twee

n ax

les

(2) Reduction of primary suspension stiffness

• Critical speed of hunting: Reduced

(1) At completion• No hunting up to high-speed range• Conventional line curve performance

(3) Reduction of distance between axles• Critical speed of hunting: Reduced• Lateral ride comfort: Reduced

High-speed running performance: HighCurve performance: Low High-speed running performance: Low

Curve performance: High

Long

Short

(2) adopted

■History of countermeasures against lateral force with FASTECH360Z(E955)

Distancbetween axles

Longitudinal stiffnessof primary suspension

Lateral stiffness ofprimary suspension

Yaw damper

○Reduced longitudinal stiffness of primary suspension ○Reduced distance between axles○Reduced yaw damper attenuation

○Track measure (CWT, rail grinding, etc.)

Countermeasures against lateral force

+Attenuation switching type yaw damper

Shinkansen section: High-speed running stability

Conventional line sections: Performance in curves Exceptional lateral

force generated

• Conventional line curve performance Lateral force reduced

• Conventional line curve performance Same as (2)

Fig. 14 Investigation of Performance of Rolling Stock for Through Service Between Shinkansen and Conventional Lines