Japan's fastest train, "Hayabusa", EMU E5 series stands at Tokyo Sta. on the Tohoku Shinkansen
The JR group has been launching "300km/h (186.4miles/hour) top speed" trains since 1997. They are the EMUs JR West 500 series (see my blog on November 28th, 2012) launched in 1997, the JR Central/West N700 series (see my blog on February 22nd, 2011) in 2005, the JR East E5 series in 2011 and the E6 series (see my blog on April 2nd, 2013) in 2013.
Among them, the E5 series had its maximum speed raised to 320km/hour (198.8miles/hour) on March 16th this year. As a result, the E5 series has won the honor of Japan's fastest train. Using the E5, a Super Express train, "Hayabusa (Falcon)" has cut the travel time between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori by 11 minutes. Currently, it takes only 2 hours 59 minutes.
When I was a kid, Aomori was a distant city for Tokyoites. It is located in the northernmost part of Honshu Island. I still remember that it took almost half a day on the overnight express train. The train reached Aomori Station in the early morning, since it was connected to the first ferry boat to Hokkaido Island. The passenger carriages of the express train were tattered and hardly seemed to be cleaned.
Although Japan at that time was poor; it still was a very relaxed journey for my family in the 1960s. The Shinkansen is very convenient; but I also feel that people should take a break from the fast-paced living of the modern world.
Among them, the E5 series had its maximum speed raised to 320km/hour (198.8miles/hour) on March 16th this year. As a result, the E5 series has won the honor of Japan's fastest train. Using the E5, a Super Express train, "Hayabusa (Falcon)" has cut the travel time between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori by 11 minutes. Currently, it takes only 2 hours 59 minutes.
When I was a kid, Aomori was a distant city for Tokyoites. It is located in the northernmost part of Honshu Island. I still remember that it took almost half a day on the overnight express train. The train reached Aomori Station in the early morning, since it was connected to the first ferry boat to Hokkaido Island. The passenger carriages of the express train were tattered and hardly seemed to be cleaned.
Although Japan at that time was poor; it still was a very relaxed journey for my family in the 1960s. The Shinkansen is very convenient; but I also feel that people should take a break from the fast-paced living of the modern world.
Side view of the Japan's fastest train, "Hayabusa", EMU E5 series