On December 11th, 2019, JR Central made a press release announcing that their train, the EMU 700 series, will be retired from Tokaido Shinkansen soon. The last run will be conducted on March 8th, 2020.
The EMU 700 series, which was developed by JR Central and JR West, debuted in 1997 as an advanced prototype model. Mass produced cars were then launched in 1999. A total of 91 sets, 1,328 units, were built between 1999 and 2006 by Nippon Sharyo, Hitachi, and Kinki Sharyo. The maximum speed is 285 kilometers per hour. It is slower than that of the previous model, namely the JR West 500 series; however, the production and the maintenance cost of the 700 series is lower than that of the 500 series. The 700 series was called "Platypus Train" by rail fans, as its face looks like the unique Australian animal. Needless to say, its unique shape was designed to reduce air resistance during the high speed operation. The brother of the 700 series is operated in Taiwan as Taiwan High Speed Rail's 700T series, and it has a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
After March 8th, the 700 series will disappear from the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo - Shin-Osaka) line, but it will continue to be operated on the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka- Hakata) line in the western part of Japan. I am going to choose the 700 series if I travel on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Sayonara (good-bye) and arigatou (thank you) Platypus Train, the EMU 700 series, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
The EMU 700 series, which was developed by JR Central and JR West, debuted in 1997 as an advanced prototype model. Mass produced cars were then launched in 1999. A total of 91 sets, 1,328 units, were built between 1999 and 2006 by Nippon Sharyo, Hitachi, and Kinki Sharyo. The maximum speed is 285 kilometers per hour. It is slower than that of the previous model, namely the JR West 500 series; however, the production and the maintenance cost of the 700 series is lower than that of the 500 series. The 700 series was called "Platypus Train" by rail fans, as its face looks like the unique Australian animal. Needless to say, its unique shape was designed to reduce air resistance during the high speed operation. The brother of the 700 series is operated in Taiwan as Taiwan High Speed Rail's 700T series, and it has a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
After March 8th, the 700 series will disappear from the Tokaido Shinkansen (Tokyo - Shin-Osaka) line, but it will continue to be operated on the Sanyo Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka- Hakata) line in the western part of Japan. I am going to choose the 700 series if I travel on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Sayonara (good-bye) and arigatou (thank you) Platypus Train, the EMU 700 series, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line.
