Anyone know anthing about this prototype?

[Nozomi]

 

I saw this picture here: http://railf.jp/japan_railfan_magazine/point/639.html

 

Any info is greatly appreciated!

 

[katoftw]

The is the Kyushu Kumamoto depot trial train for multi gauge bogies.

 

There are some youtube vids of it in action.

Edited May 17, 2014 by katoftw

[E6系]

Hello Mr Nozomi,

 

Please allow me to assist you with information about this train.  It is the new Kyushu FGT - Free Gauge Train.  It is under development to enable high speed rail across standard and narrow gauges in Kyushu.  I find the colour scheme very attractive.  It was reported widely in the press last month that testing of the vehicle had commenced.  Test runs began on April 20.  Apparently the testing will continue for 3 years.  If successful, the train should progress to regular service, with a fleet being constructed over the following five years.

 

I have found an article in English here: http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201404200014

[Sacto1985]

Besides running this train possibly on the new Nagasaki Shinkansen line now under construction, there is another possibility where the FGT could be used: Kanazawa to Niigata on a new Hokuetsu service, where the FGT travels from Kanazawa to Jōetsumyōkō on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, then from Jōetsumyōkō to Nagaoka on the Shinetsu Main Line, then Nagaoka to Niigata on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line.

[Nozomi]

Thank you all for your replies.

 

I will follow the developments around the free gauge technology because it might be a very economical way to introduce an even wider population to shinkansen service without the need to change trains enroute.

 

I always wondered why they built the Hakata-Kagoshima-Branch of the Kyushu shinkansen before the Hakata-Nagasaki-Branch.

[miyakoji]

I think some of the prefectural or local governments in the path of the northern half opposed it.  So they built the southern part first, either to demonstrate that it would be popular, or just to generally pressure the governments of the northern half.  Someone here will know specifics

[katoftw]

I always wondered why they built the Hakata-Kagoshima-Branch of the Kyushu shinkansen before the Hakata-Nagasaki-Branch.

Money doesn't grow on trees and the government was gonna keep handing out interest free loans.  So building a route the covers the most regions is better than one that covers only a few regions.

 

But if you are really interested in what went down:-

 

http://www.omegacentre.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/studies/cases/pdf/JAPAN_SHINKANSEN_PROFILE_310511

Edited May 19, 2014 by katoftw

[E6系]

I always wondered why they built the Hakata-Kagoshima-Branch of the Kyushu shinkansen before the Hakata-Nagasaki-Branch.

 

Hello Mr Nozomi,

 

Please allow me to provide what little information I know about the Kyushu shinkansen development.  In 1987, projections based on existing passenger patterns determined that the Kyushu (Kagoshima) route would be more profitable than the Kyushu (Nagasaki) route.  At that time, Kyushu (Kagoshima) was considered to be the fourth most profitable route under consideration across the nation.

 

Even today, the Kyushu (Nagasaki) route does not receive enough patronage to make a full standard gauge conversion profitable.  The project will only contain approximately 45km of standard gauge track, I believe.  Thus the need for the FGT. 

 

In future years I expect many more routes to be announced using FGT and branch lines off the existing shinkansen routes.  With Japan's population on the decline, we cannot expect any growth in patronage on existing routes.  Where shinkansen lines are not fully utilised the FGT will be the answer.

[Sacto1985]

In the end, the reason why the Hakata (Fukuoka) to Kagoshima route was chosen was simple: ridership would be much higher on this route, especially with another major Kyushu city--Kumamoto--along the way. 

 

I do think that there may be a chance we could see line improvements on the Nippō Main Line between Kokura and Kagoshima to allow FGT operation, though. That way, trains could run as fast as 160 to 170 km/h (100 to 106 mph) for faster connections between Kokura, Beppu, Ōita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.