In almost a decade, Japan’s bullet trains for Tokyo-Osaka journey haven’t changed a bit. Although impressive, they pale in comparison to a new model, called N700s or the “Supreme”. This bad boy hit a record speed in its test run, besides being lighter and more energy efficient than previous models.
Last Friday, Supreme gave its best, hitting a record speed of 224 miles per hour – or about 360 kilometers per hour! That makes it the fastest commercial shinkansen bullet train ever created.
The line it was tested on is between Maibara and Kyoto but unfortunately, once it’s launched officially, it is expected to respect regulations and achieve the line’s current top speed of 285 kph.
The N700s is able to boost additional safety features in case of earthquakes and uses far less energy than other models. Tests will continue to run until mid June at top speed, while the government will put at JR Central’s disposal about 240 billion yen ($2.2 billion) to make it happen.
Japan’s bullet trains are known for being reliable and safe, which makes them great for export, as JR Central aims to sell the Supreme model to Texas and Taiwan.
That doesn’t mean the train is unrivaled. East Japan Railway Co. is currently testing their own Alfa-X, now operating at 360 kph and preparing it to debut for the public in 2030. This will link Tokyo to the northern island of Hokkaido.
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