Japan Times: Central Japan Railway's test shinkansen hits 360 kph

[bill937ca]

A prototype shinkansen of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) reached the highest speed ever for the model hitting 360 kilometers per hour, the operator...   

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/25/business/tech/central-japan-railways-test-shinkansen-hits-360-kph/?utm_source=Daily+News+Updates&utm_campaign=7ac6d44257-Sunday_email_updates26_05_2019&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c5a6080d40-7ac6d44257-333474241#.XOlzh4hKjcc

[trainsforever8]

Is there any reason why they aren't already operating at 360kph right now? 

[Sacto1985]

Well, it could be done, but:

 

1. There are still 700 Series trainsets limited to a maximum of 285 km/h operating on the Tokaidō Shinkansen line, some in Hikari fewer-stops service.

 

2. The Tokaidō Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka is rated at most for 285 km/h maximum operation. 

 

The N700S Series trainset did that 360 km/h speed run in the middle of the night between Maibara and Kyoto, a part of the Tokaidō line used for very high speed testing in the past by JR Central.

[trainsforever8]

I wonder if they'll eventually increase the speed limit on the line, it's definitely doable. Perhaps one of the reasons why they are setting those limits is the speed at which the train can stop during an earthquake?

[Sheffie]

I always thought the problem was going into a tunnel without the driver’s window breaking 

[bikkuri bahn]

The speed record was a marketing stunt intended for the less sophisticated N. American/developing world markets, to show the capabilities of shinkansen technology.  There is no intention to raise operating speeds beyond the current 285km/h limit. As mentioned before, there are the curves impacting pax comfort, as well as environmental issues (noise), there may also be power consumption issues which outweigh any marginal improvements in travel time.  Most importantly, the operating diagram is too dense to allow pathing for such speeds. Anyway, there is the chuo shinkansen which will be the next step up in high speed operation.