Latest news with #TohokuShinkansen
Asahi Shimbun
5 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Same circuit board used in two bullet train decouplings
The decoupled Hayabusa and Komachi bullet trains in Tokyo's Arakawa Ward on March 6 (Yasumasa Kikuchi) East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) has revealed that two recent decouplings of Tohoku Shinkansen mid-journey involved different Komachi trains that used the same electrical circuit board, which may have triggered the malfunctions. Following the first decoupling in September, JR East determined that a small metal fragment left over from the manufacturing process may have caused a false unlocking signal by entering the coupler's control switch. In response, company engineers inspected all 96 train units capable of coupled operations and cleared any metal fragments. They also removed parts behind the control switch for modifications to prevent a recurrence. One of these modified parts--a circuit board from the first train malfunction--was later installed in the train that experienced the second decoupling in March. The circuit board in question has been removed and is now undergoing a thorough investigation to determine whether it was responsible for both decoupling mishaps. In the second incident, officials confirmed that the lever designed to unlock the coupler repeatedly failed. However, the exact cause for the malfunction remains unknown. The recent discovery involving the circuit board has prompted JR East to re-examine whether the first incident was actually triggered by a loose metal fragment. In addition to its own investigation, the company is cooperating with a probe by the Japan Transport Safety Board, which has classified the incidents as serious. Along with safety concerns, the malfunctions inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of passengers as hundreds of trains were canceled. Shortly after the suspension of operations that followed the second incident, JR East resumed coupled train operations using temporary preventive measures. It installed additional metal components designed to physically prevent the coupler from disengaging trains, even in the event of an electrical signal malfunction. JR East President Yoichi Kise has announced plans to introduce a permanent double-locking mechanism in the safety system to prevent mid-operation decoupling.
Japan Times
15-04-2025
- Automotive
- Japan Times
India to adopt JR East's new E10 shinkansen trains
India will adopt East Japan Railway's E10 series of shinkansen bullet trains for its national high-speed railway under construction in the west of the country, according to people familiar with the matter. A final decision on the introduction of the next-generation shinkansen series is expected to be made when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Japan for a summit meeting, the people said Monday, adding that there is a possibility that the meeting will take place in August. The E10 trains, being developed for JR East's Tohoku Shinkansen line, are expected to be put into service in the South Asian country in the early 2030s. Japanese and Indian authorities are in talks over how to select a company to operate the Japanese-style signaling system necessary for running the E10 trains. They and Indian railway operator National High Speed Rail plan to conduct hearings of Japanese firms soon. The E10 trains are slated to enter service in Japan in fiscal 2030 and are seen being introduced on the Indian high-speed rail line connecting Mumbai to Ahmedabad soon afterward. A total of 24 sets of 10 train cars are expected to be delivered for the Indian railway, with some likely to be produced in the South Asian country. A rendering of East Japan Railway's E10 series of shinkansen bullet trains | East Japan Railway / via Jiji Japan plans to create a new yen loan framework, with the interest rate to be decided later, as the railway project is likely to cost more than expected in light of the E10 adoption. The loan will be available to use not only for train cars, but also for the development of areas around stations. The Indian government aims to start commercial operations on some sections of the high-speed line in August 2027. Until the E10 trains are delivered, it plans to run Vande Bharat semihigh-speed trains after modifications to increase their speed. Tokyo had initially planned to get India to adopt JR East's current mainstay E5 series trains for the high-speed line, but the country expressed disapproval over what an Indian government source described as a price tag significantly over the international standard, as well as postponements in the delivery period. New Delhi was considering using train cars produced domestically, but the Japanese government was unwavering in seeking the adoption of Japan-made trains for what is considered a flagship project for Japan-India cooperation. To break the deadlock, Tokyo proposed the adoption of E10 trains in negotiations at the end of last year, which the Indian side signaled it would accept. The Japanese government also proposed the newer train model because introducing the E10 trains would coincide with the completion of efforts to set up a Japanese-style signaling system for the line.
CNN
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The ‘Shinkansen kiss': Japan's little-known rail spectacle that attracts trainspotters from around the world
In Japan, finding a true hidden gem seems harder than ever. In recent years, the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have become staples for most international tourists who visit. But the adventurous visitor only needs to travel just a few hours north of the capital to find a less crowded city, where culinary delicacies can be eaten against the backdrop of a snow-capped, active volcano. Morioka is perhaps most famous for its noodle-eating challenge and a popular summer festival. But inside its train station awaits one of Japan's most curious treasures. A spectacle to get the hearts of rail fans racing, it happens 17 times a day, and there is always a crowd waiting at the platform to see it. First, the teal green Tohoku Shinkansen 'Hayabusa' — one of Japan's world-famous bullet trains — arrives at the platform. It stops, passengers alight, and the train waits patiently for its partner. Then, the bright red Akita Shinkansen 'Komachi' slowly approaches along the same track. Finally, to the excitement of onlookers, the front of the trains open up, and they connect, nose-to-nose. The technical term for the event is 'coupling,' but it is known colloquially as the 'Shinkansen kiss.' For Japanese rail fans, it's a big deal. For foreigners, it is a unique insight into the quintessentially Japanese experience of trainspotting. 'It is the iconic image of the two Shinkansen being connected at the noses,' Carissa Loh, a rail enthusiast from Singapore, tells CNN. She has joined the crowds to watch the kiss more than five times, noting that for anyone who knows about Japanese trains, the scene at Morioka station is 'very, very recognizable.' The Japanese are proud of their sleek, spaceship-like Shinkansen, known worldwide as 'bullet trains.' They are famously fast, reliable and beautifully designed. In Japan, explains Loh, rail fans are divided into two main categories: nori-tetsu — 'people who like to ride trains' — and tori-tetsu — 'people who like to take photos of trains.' Every month, timetables for all the trains are published in 'a very thick book,' and hobbyists 'will look at it to see where they should go to take a specific photo or to ride a specific train.' In particular, said Loh, Japanese children love their trains. 'A lot of little boys, when you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they will say they want to be a Shinkansen driver,' said Loh, 'And they can recognize the different trains by the colors and the models. A lot of the people who are (in Morioka) watching are parents bringing their children.' The Shinkansen network connects the Tokyo metropolitan area to various regions of the country, serving approximately 14 million passengers every day, according to the East Japan Rail Company. At Morioka, the two trains connect and then travel together towards the capital, allowing passengers to go between Akita and Tokyo without needing to transfer. The teal green Hayabusa, the fastest train in the network, pulls along the red Komachi. Morioka is one of three stations in Japan where you can witness the kissing of two Shinkansen trains, along with Sendai and Fukushima. It is the only place you can witness the colorful kiss between the Tohoku and the Akita. You can also see the 'uncoupling' of the trains at Morioka, as they separate and head in different directions – a sad image in contrast to their joyful union. It is 'a moving experience to watch the mechanical and smooth kissing of the large Shinkansen car body under the exquisite control of the driver,' a representative of the East Japan Railway Company told CNN. It also adds to the already seductive charm of Morioka, a city of fewer than 300,000 people, often seen as an unlikely stop in a tour of Japan. 'It's not really a place that first-time visitors to Japan would visit,' said Loh. But that perception might be changing. In 2023, Morioka was placed second on the New York Times' list of '52 Places to Go,' only behind London. The Times described the city as 'a walkable gem without the crowds, just a short bullet train ride from Tokyo.' Morioka is known for its old buildings and numerous boutiques, as well as its noodle dishes, according to the East Japan Rail Company. With the added allure of what Loh describes as the 'special experience' of the Shinkansen kiss, the northern city has the potential to rival the more popular destinations in the south. 'Most people travel towards Kyoto and Osaka,' said the East Japan Rail Company. '(But) there are many interesting locations north of Tokyo to explore.'
CNN
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The ‘Shinkansen kiss': Japan's little-known rail spectacle that attracts trainspotters from around the world
In Japan, finding a true hidden gem seems harder than ever. In recent years, the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have become staples for most international tourists who visit. But the adventurous visitor only needs to travel just a few hours north of the capital to find a less crowded city, where culinary delicacies can be eaten against the backdrop of a snow-capped, active volcano. Morioka is perhaps most famous for its noodle-eating challenge and a popular summer festival. But inside its train station awaits one of Japan's most curious treasures. A spectacle to get the hearts of rail fans racing, it happens 17 times a day, and there is always a crowd waiting at the platform to see it. First, the teal green Tohoku Shinkansen 'Hayabusa' — one of Japan's world-famous bullet trains — arrives at the platform. It stops, passengers alight, and the train waits patiently for its partner. Then, the bright red Akita Shinkansen 'Komachi' slowly approaches along the same track. Finally, to the excitement of onlookers, the front of the trains open up, and they connect, nose-to-nose. The technical term for the event is 'coupling,' but it is known colloquially as the 'Shinkansen kiss.' For Japanese rail fans, it's a big deal. For foreigners, it is a unique insight into the quintessentially Japanese experience of trainspotting. 'It is the iconic image of the two Shinkansen being connected at the noses,' Carissa Loh, a rail enthusiast from Singapore, tells CNN. She has joined the crowds to watch the kiss more than five times, noting that for anyone who knows about Japanese trains, the scene at Morioka station is 'very, very recognizable.' The Japanese are proud of their sleek, spaceship-like Shinkansen, known worldwide as 'bullet trains.' They are famously fast, reliable and beautifully designed. In Japan, explains Loh, rail fans are divided into two main categories: nori-tetsu — 'people who like to ride trains' — and tori-tetsu — 'people who like to take photos of trains.' Every month, timetables for all the trains are published in 'a very thick book,' and hobbyists 'will look at it to see where they should go to take a specific photo or to ride a specific train.' In particular, said Loh, Japanese children love their trains. 'A lot of little boys, when you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they will say they want to be a Shinkansen driver,' said Loh, 'And they can recognize the different trains by the colors and the models. A lot of the people who are (in Morioka) watching are parents bringing their children.' The Shinkansen network connects the Tokyo metropolitan area to various regions of the country, serving approximately 14 million passengers every day, according to the East Japan Rail Company. At Morioka, the two trains connect and then travel together towards the capital, allowing passengers to go between Akita and Tokyo without needing to transfer. The teal green Hayabusa, the fastest train in the network, pulls along the red Komachi. Morioka is one of three stations in Japan where you can witness the kissing of two Shinkansen trains, along with Sendai and Fukushima. It is the only place you can witness the colorful kiss between the Tohoku and the Akita. You can also see the 'uncoupling' of the trains at Morioka, as they separate and head in different directions – a sad image in contrast to their joyful union. It is 'a moving experience to watch the mechanical and smooth kissing of the large Shinkansen car body under the exquisite control of the driver,' a representative of the East Japan Railway Company told CNN. It also adds to the already seductive charm of Morioka, a city of fewer than 300,000 people, often seen as an unlikely stop in a tour of Japan. 'It's not really a place that first-time visitors to Japan would visit,' said Loh. But that perception might be changing. In 2023, Morioka was placed second on the New York Times' list of '52 Places to Go,' only behind London. The Times described the city as 'a walkable gem without the crowds, just a short bullet train ride from Tokyo.' Morioka is known for its old buildings and numerous boutiques, as well as its noodle dishes, according to the East Japan Rail Company. With the added allure of what Loh describes as the 'special experience' of the Shinkansen kiss, the northern city has the potential to rival the more popular destinations in the south. 'Most people travel towards Kyoto and Osaka,' said the East Japan Rail Company. '(But) there are many interesting locations north of Tokyo to explore.'
CNN
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The ‘Shinkansen kiss': Japan's little-known rail spectacle that attracts trainspotters from around the world
In Japan, finding a true hidden gem seems harder than ever. In recent years, the cities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have become staples for most international tourists who visit. But the adventurous visitor only needs to travel just a few hours north of the capital to find a less crowded city, where culinary delicacies can be eaten against the backdrop of a snow-capped, active volcano. Morioka is perhaps most famous for its noodle-eating challenge and a popular summer festival. But inside its train station awaits one of Japan's most curious treasures. A spectacle to get the hearts of rail fans racing, it happens 17 times a day, and there is always a crowd waiting at the platform to see it. First, the teal green Tohoku Shinkansen 'Hayabusa' — one of Japan's world-famous bullet trains — arrives at the platform. It stops, passengers alight, and the train waits patiently for its partner. Then, the bright red Akita Shinkansen 'Komachi' slowly approaches along the same track. Finally, to the excitement of onlookers, the front of the trains open up, and they connect, nose-to-nose. The technical term for the event is 'coupling,' but it is known colloquially as the 'Shinkansen kiss.' For Japanese rail fans, it's a big deal. For foreigners, it is a unique insight into the quintessentially Japanese experience of trainspotting. 'It is the iconic image of the two Shinkansen being connected at the noses,' Carissa Loh, a rail enthusiast from Singapore, tells CNN. She has joined the crowds to watch the kiss more than five times, noting that for anyone who knows about Japanese trains, the scene at Morioka station is 'very, very recognizable.' The Japanese are proud of their sleek, spaceship-like Shinkansen, known worldwide as 'bullet trains.' They are famously fast, reliable and beautifully designed. In Japan, explains Loh, rail fans are divided into two main categories: nori-tetsu — 'people who like to ride trains' — and tori-tetsu — 'people who like to take photos of trains.' Every month, timetables for all the trains are published in 'a very thick book,' and hobbyists 'will look at it to see where they should go to take a specific photo or to ride a specific train.' In particular, said Loh, Japanese children love their trains. 'A lot of little boys, when you ask them what they want to be when they grow up, they will say they want to be a Shinkansen driver,' said Loh, 'And they can recognize the different trains by the colors and the models. A lot of the people who are (in Morioka) watching are parents bringing their children.' The Shinkansen network connects the Tokyo metropolitan area to various regions of the country, serving approximately 14 million passengers every day, according to the East Japan Rail Company. At Morioka, the two trains connect and then travel together towards the capital, allowing passengers to go between Akita and Tokyo without needing to transfer. The teal green Hayabusa, the fastest train in the network, pulls along the red Komachi. Morioka is one of three stations in Japan where you can witness the kissing of two Shinkansen trains, along with Sendai and Fukushima. It is the only place you can witness the colorful kiss between the Tohoku and the Akita. You can also see the 'uncoupling' of the trains at Morioka, as they separate and head in different directions – a sad image in contrast to their joyful union. It is 'a moving experience to watch the mechanical and smooth kissing of the large Shinkansen car body under the exquisite control of the driver,' a representative of the East Japan Railway Company told CNN. It also adds to the already seductive charm of Morioka, a city of fewer than 300,000 people, often seen as an unlikely stop in a tour of Japan. 'It's not really a place that first-time visitors to Japan would visit,' said Loh. But that perception might be changing. In 2023, Morioka was placed second on the New York Times' list of '52 Places to Go,' only behind London. The Times described the city as 'a walkable gem without the crowds, just a short bullet train ride from Tokyo.' Morioka is known for its old buildings and numerous boutiques, as well as its noodle dishes, according to the East Japan Rail Company. With the added allure of what Loh describes as the 'special experience' of the Shinkansen kiss, the northern city has the potential to rival the more popular destinations in the south. 'Most people travel towards Kyoto and Osaka,' said the East Japan Rail Company. '(But) there are many interesting locations north of Tokyo to explore.'
