N700 Series Shinkansen


The N700 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capability developed jointly by JR Central and JR West for use on the Tōkaidō and San'yō Shinkansen lines. Constructed between 2005 and 2020, the type entered revenue service on 1 July 2007, replacing the earlier 300, 500, and 700 series. The N700 series is also operated by JR Kyushu on the Kyushu Shinkansen.
A total of 172 16-car sets and 30 8-car sets were built. N700 series trains have a maximum operating speed of, and their tilting mechanism—up to one degree—allows sustained operation at on radius curves, which were previously limited to. Compared with the 700 series, the N700 also features faster acceleration, with a maximum rate of, enabling it to reach in approximately three minutes.
Further refinements led to the development of the N700A, an incremental evolution that permits operation at on radius curves, raising the maximum operating speed on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to. All N700 series sets were subsequently retrofitted with most N700A improvements.
These enhancements reduced end-to-end travel times, enabling the fastest Nozomi services between Tokyo and Osaka to complete the journey in as little as 2 hours and 22 minutes.
A successor design with additional refinements, the N700S, entered service in 2020 and is planned to gradually replace the N700 series; the first four sets began operation on 1 July 2020.

Operations

N700 series trains gradually replaced 300, 500 and 700 series sets on Nozomi services, and by the end of February 2009, the N700 series were responsible for 74 Nozomi services per day. All Nozomi through runs were scheduled to use the N700 series exclusively by 2009. From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012, all regularly scheduled Nozomi services, including runs limited only to the Tokaido Shinkansen, were operated by N700 series sets.
Since 4 March 2017, the N700 is also used on regularly scheduled Hikari services during the day, as well as all Kodama trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen, since March 2020.
Since March 2009, the N700 series trains have been equipped with wireless internet available for use between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

Future plans

In an announcement by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu made on 17 October 2023, the companies stated that all onboard smoking rooms on the Tokaido, San'yo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains would be abolished by Q2 2024.

Variants

16-car G sets (N700-1000 series "N700A")

The N700-1000 series, or "N700A", is a new version of the N700 series design delivered from August 2012, and entering revenue service from 8 February 2013.
The new version is externally identical to the existing N700 series sets, with the addition of new "N700A" logos on each odd-numbered car. The new trains include modified brake discs, bogie vibration detection, and ATC improvements.
Six "G" sets were scheduled to be introduced during fiscal 2012, replacing older 700 series sets, with seven more sets introduced during fiscal 2013. A further 18 sets are on order by JR Central, to be delivered six sets per year between fiscal 2014 and 2016 at a cost of 88 billion yen. In October 2015, JR Central announced that it had ordered a further 20 N700A series sets to be delivered between fiscal 2016 and 2019, replacing all of the remaining 700 series trains sets on Tokaido Shinkansen services.
The first set, G1, was delivered to Hamamatsu in August 2012, with test running commencing on the Tokaido Shinkansen the following month.

Formation

The 16-car G sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Shin-Osaka end and car 16 at the Tokyo end.
Car No.12345678910111213141516
DesignationTcM2M'wM1M1wM'M2kM1sM1swM2sM'hM1M1wM'M2wT'c
Numbering783-1000787-1000786-1500785-1000785-1300786-1000787-1400775-1000776-1000777-1000786-1700785-1600785-1500786-1200787-1500784-1000
Seating capacity6510085100901007568646863100901008075
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, smoking roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking roomConductor's officeToilets, telephoneSmoking roomToilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking room, telephone

Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.


Interior

Internally, seats have new moquette seat covers, and LED lighting is used in toilets and washing areas.

Fleet list

, the N700A series G set fleet is as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredRemarks
G1Nippon Sharyo25 August 2012Fiscal 2012 batch
G2Hitachi7 November 2012Fiscal 2012 batch
G3Nippon Sharyo16 November 2012Fiscal 2012 batch
G4Nippon Sharyo22 January 2013Fiscal 2012 batch
G5Hitachi30 January 2013Fiscal 2012 batch
G6Nippon Sharyo22 February 2013Fiscal 2012 batch
G7Hitachi17 April 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
G8Nippon Sharyo11 July 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
G9Nippon Sharyo20 September 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
G10Nippon Sharyo29 October 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
G11Nippon Sharyo11 December 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
G12Nippon Sharyo21 January 2014Fiscal 2013 batch
G13Nippon Sharyo21 February 2014Fiscal 2013 batch
G14Nippon Sharyo4 July 2014Fiscal 2014 batch
G15Hitachi31 July 2014Fiscal 2014 batch
G16Nippon Sharyo22 August 2014Fiscal 2014 batch
G17Nippon Sharyo21 October 2014Fiscal 2014 batch
G18Hitachi3 December 2014Fiscal 2014 batch
G19Nippon Sharyo17 February 2015Fiscal 2014 batch
G20Nippon Sharyo14 April 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
G21Hitachi11 June 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
G22Nippon Sharyo28 August 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
G23Nippon Sharyo20 October 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
G24Hitachi16 December 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
G25Nippon Sharyo16 February 2016Fiscal 2015 batch
G26Hitachi6 April 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G27Nippon Sharyo10 June 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G28Nippon Sharyo30 August 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G29Hitachi19 October 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G30Nippon Sharyo1 November 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G31Nippon Sharyo13 December 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
G32Nippon Sharyo7 March 2017Fiscal 2016 batch
G33Nippon Sharyo21 April 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G34Nippon Sharyo13 June 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G35Nippon Sharyo19 July 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G36Hitachi5 September 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G37Nippon Sharyo17 October 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G38Nippon Sharyo5 December 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
G39Nippon Sharyo16 January 2018Fiscal 2017 batch
G40Nippon Sharyo8 June 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
G41Nippon Sharyo13 October 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
G42Hitachi20 July 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
G43Hitachi18 September 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
G44Nippon Sharyo8 January 2019Fiscal 2018 batch
G45Nippon Sharyo15 February 2019Fiscal 2018 batch
G46Nippon Sharyo23 March 2019Fiscal 2018 batch
G47Hitachi19 April 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
G48Nippon Sharyo7 June 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
G49Hitachi16 July 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
G50Nippon Sharyo17 September 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
G51Hitachi21 February 2020Fiscal 2019 batch

16-car X sets (N700-2000 series "N700A")

  • 81 x 16-car sets, X0-X80
These are former N700 series Z sets modified between 2013 and August 2015 to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Cars are renumbered in the -2000 subseries, with the exception of set X0, which is still numbered in the -9000 subseries. The sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos.
The prototype 16-car train was delivered in March 2005 for extensive testing and endurance running. Cars 1 to 4 were built by Hitachi, cars 5 to 14 were built by Nippon Sharyo, and cars 15 and 16 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. It was initially fitted with two auxiliary headlights located below the nose.
The first full-production Z set was delivered to JR Central in April 2007, and trains entered revenue service on 1 July 2007, with eight daily Nozomi service runs. The final Z set, Z80, was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in February 2012.
From fiscal 2013, the fleet of Z sets underwent modifications to incorporate some of the improvements featured in the later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "X" sets, with cars renumbered in the -2000 subseries. The modified sets are also identified by the addition of a small "A" added to the right of the bodyside "N700" logos. The first original "Z" set, set Z65, was modified to become set X65 in May 2013, with the last original "Z" set, set Z4, modified to become set X4 in August 2015.
The prototype set Z0 was used as a JR Central test train with cars numbered in the -9000 series, and was not used in revenue service. It was renumbered set X0 in 2014, but the car numbers remained in the -9000 subseries. The set was officially withdrawn from service in February 2019.
Withdrawals of N700 series X sets commenced in July 2020, beginning with set X12.

Former Z sets

Formation

The 16-car X sets are formed as follows.
Car No.12345678910111213141516
DesignationTcM2M'wM1M1wM'M2kM1sM'sM2sM'hM1M1wM'M2wT'c
Numbering783-2000787-2000786-2500785-2000785-2300786-2000787-2400775-2000776-2000777-2000786-2700785-2600785-2500786-2200787-2500784-2000
Seating capacity6510085100901007568646863100901008075
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, smoking roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking roomConductor's officeToilets, telephoneSmoking roomToilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking room, telephone

Former Z set formation

Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

Fleet list

, the JR Central N700A series fleet is as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredDate converted to N700ADate withdrawnRemarks
X0Hitachi/Kawasaki HI/Nippon Sharyo12 March 200512 May 201425 February 2019Pre-series set
X1Nippon Sharyo17 April 200718 May 20154 October 2021Full-production sets
X2Hitachi9 May 20079 June 20152 November 2021Full-production sets
X3Nippon Sharyo21 May 200715 June 20152 December 2021Full-production sets
X4Hitachi16 June 20075 August 20154 January 2022Full-production sets
X5Nippon Sharyo23 June 20077 July 20157 February 2022Full-production sets
X6Hitachi5 September 200716 July 20132 March 2022Full-production sets
X7Nippon Sharyo12 August 201319 April 2022Full-production sets
X8Hitachi31 October 200728 August 201313 May 2022Full-production sets
X9Nippon Sharyo22 October 200721 October 201313 July 2022Full-production sets
X10Hitachi6 December 200725 October 201316 August 2022Full-production sets
X11Nippon Sharyo29 November 200711 December 201312 September 2022Full-production sets
X12Kawasaki HI9 January 200821 January 20142 July 2020Full-production sets
X13Nippon Sharyo16 January 200831 January 20141 September 2020Full-production sets
X14Hitachi6 February 200827 February 201426 September 2020Full-production sets
X15Nippon Sharyo21 February 200816 May 201421 October 2020Full-production sets
X16Hitachi5 March 200822 May 201418 November 2020Full-production sets
X17Nippon Sharyo8 May 20083 June 201414 December 2020Full-production sets
X18Hitachi15 May 200819 June 201425 April 2023Full-production sets
X19Nippon Sharyo12 June 20081 July 201414 January 2021Full-production sets
X20Hitachi2 July 20087 July 201424 May 2023Full-production sets
X21Nippon Sharyo17 July 200824 July 201421 May 2021Full-production sets
X22Hitachi6 August 20087 August 201412 February 2021Full-production sets
X23Nippon Sharyo27 August 20088 September 201416 March 2021Full-production sets
X24Hitachi17 September 200812 September 201416 April 2021Full-production sets
X25Nippon Sharyo3 October 200821 October 20147 June 2021Full-production sets
X26Kawasaki HI16 November 200829 November 20145 August 2021Full-production sets
X27Nippon Sharyo9 November 200827 October 201414 May 2021Full-production sets
X28Hitachi21 December 20084 December 20148 July 2021Full-production sets
X29Nippon Sharyo14 December 200828 January 20157 September 2021Full-production sets
X30Kawasaki HI11 February 200922 December 201412 October 2023Full-production sets
X31Nippon Sharyo24 January 200916 December 20145 January 2025Full-production sets
X32Nippon Sharyo1 March 20099 February 201527 March 2024Full-production sets
X33Hitachi15 April 200922 May 20156 June 2024Full-production sets
X34Nippon Sharyo3 April 20093 February 20158 March 2024Full-production sets
X35Nippon Sharyo13 May 20093 June 20151 October 2024Full-production sets
X36Kawasaki HI26 August 200922 July 201324 July 2024Full-production sets
X37Nippon Sharyo18 June 200919 June 20152 September 2024Full-production sets
X38Nippon Sharyo24 July 20099 July 20139 January 2025Full-production sets
X39Nippon Sharyo3 September 200927 July 201330 March 2022Full-production sets
X40Hitachi8 July 200919 June 201329 November 2024Full-production sets
X41Nippon Sharyo11 October 200927 September 20133 June 2022Full-production sets
X42Nippon Sharyo14 November 200913 November 201310 March 2025Full-production sets
X43Hitachi1 December 200921 December 201311 October 2022Full-production sets
X44Nippon Sharyo17 December 200927 January 201411 November 2022Full-production sets
X45Hitachi13 January 20105 March 201413 December 2022Full-production sets
X46Nippon Sharyo27 January 201015 March 201415 December 2023Full-production sets
X47Hitachi17 February 201020 March 201412 January 2023Full-production sets
X48Nippon Sharyo1 March 20109 April 201425 February 2023Full-production sets
X49Nippon Sharyo2 April 201028 May 201423 March 2023Full-production sets
X50Nippon Sharyo9 May 201025 June 20143 July 2025Full-production sets
X51Nippon Sharyo9 June 201018 July 201419 August 2025Full-production sets
X52Nippon Sharyo10 July 201031 July 2014Full-production sets
X53Hitachi21 July 201022 August 2014Full-production sets
X54Nippon Sharyo18 August 201027 September 2014Full-production sets
X55Nippon Sharyo18 September 201019 September 2014Full-production sets
X56Hitachi1 October 201015 October 2014Full-production sets
X57Nippon Sharyo21 October 201031 October 2014Full-production sets
X58Hitachi10 November 201018 November 2014Full-production sets
X59Nippon Sharyo21 November 201012 December 2014Full-production sets
X60Nippon Sharyo22 December 201025 November 2014Full-production sets
X61Hitachi19 January 201122 January 2015Full-production sets
X62Nippon Sharyo28 January 201119 March 2015Full-production sets
X63Hitachi23 February 201125 March 2015Full-production sets
X64Nippon Sharyo3 March 201125 April 2015Full-production sets
X65Nippon Sharyo6 April 20117 May 2013Full-production sets
X66Hitachi20 April 201114 July 2015Full-production sets
X67Nippon Sharyo13 May 20111 July 2015Full-production sets
X68Nippon Sharyo15 June 201127 June 2013Full-production sets
X69Nippon Sharyo16 July 201123 August 2013Full-production sets
X70Hitachi3 August 201112 September 2013Full-production sets
X71Nippon Sharyo20 August 201119 September 2013Full-production sets
X72Hitachi7 September 201115 October 2013Full-production sets
X73Nippon Sharyo22 September 201129 November 2013Full-production sets
X74Nippon Sharyo24 October 20115 December 2013Full-production sets
X75Hitachi3 November 201117 December 2013Full-production sets
X76Nippon Sharyo23 November 201127 December 2013Full-production sets
X77Nippon Sharyo22 December 201121 February 2014Full-production sets
X78Nippon Sharyo29 January 201211 March 2014Full-production sets
X79Hitachi22 February 201215 April 2014Full-production sets
X80Nippon Sharyo1 March 201221 April 2014Full-production sets

16-car F sets (N700-4000 series "N700A")

These are N700A series sets owned by JR West and classified N700-4000 series, with one set delivered in November 2013 and entering revenue service from 8 February 2014. A further four sets were delivered each in fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016, followed by three in fiscal 2017, five in fiscal 2018, and seven in fiscal 2019.

Formation

The 16-car F sets are formed as follows.
Car No.12345678910111213141516
DesignationTcM2M'wM1M1wM'M2kM1sM'sM2sM'hM1M1wM'M2wT'c
Numbering783-4000787-4000786-4500785-4000785-4300786-4000787-4400775-4000776-4000777-4000786-4700785-4600785-4500786-4200787-4500784-4000
Seating capacity6510085100901007568646863100901008075
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, smoking roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking roomConductor's officeToilets, telephoneSmoking roomToilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking room, telephone

Fleet list

, the JR West N700A series fleet is as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredRemarks
F1Hitachi27 November 2013Fiscal 2013 batch
F2Nippon Sharyo1 August 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
F3Hitachi3 September 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
F4Hitachi3 November 2015Fiscal 2015 batch
F5Nippon Sharyo17 February 2016Fiscal 2015 batch
F6Nippon Sharyo15 April 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
F7Hitachi29 May 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
F8Hitachi7 September 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
F9Nippon Sharyo11 October 2016Fiscal 2016 batch
F10Nippon Sharyo22 August 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
F11Nippon Sharyo3 October 2017Fiscal 2017 batch
F12Hitachi16 January 2018Fiscal 2017 batch
F13Hitachi17 April 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
F14Hitachi15 October 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
F15Nippon Sharyo21 August 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
F16Hitachi21 February 2019Fiscal 2018 batch
F17Nippon Sharyo26 November 2018Fiscal 2018 batch
F18Hitachi19 June 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
F19Nippon Sharyo12 July 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
F20Hitachi16 October 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
F21Nippon Sharyo13 November 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
F22Hitachi11 December 2019Fiscal 2019 batch
F23Hitachi18 March 2020Fiscal 2019 batch
F24Nippon Sharyo19 February 2020Fiscal 2019 batch

16-car K sets (N700-5000 series "N700A")

  • 16 x 16-car sets, K1-K16
These are JR West trainsets modified from October 2013 from former N700 series N sets to incorporate some of the design improvements featured in the later N700A series sets.

Former N sets

The 16-car N sets were operated by JR West on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen services. The first set, N1, was delivered in June 2007, entering service on 1 July 2007. 16 sets were in service by April 2014.
The fleet of 16 "N" sets subsequently underwent modifications at Hakata Depot between fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2015 to add improved braking systems and other features incorporated in the later N700A series sets. Modified sets were re-designated "K" sets, with cars renumbered in the -5000 subseries.

Formation

The 16-car K sets are formed as follows.
Car No.12345678910111213141516
DesignationTcM2M'wM1M1wM'M2kM1sM'sM2sM'hM1M1wM'M2wT'c
Numbering783-5000787-5000786-5500785-5000785-5300786-5000787-5400775-5000776-5000777-5000786-5700785-5600785-5500786-5200787-5500784-5000
Seating capacity6510085100901007568646863100901008075
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, smoking roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking roomConductor's officeToilets, telephoneSmoking roomToilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking room, telephone

Former N set formation

The 16-car N sets were formed as follows.
Car No.12345678910111213141516
DesignationTcM2M'wM1M1wM'M2kM1sM'sM2sM'hM1M1wM'M2wT'c
Numbering783-3000787-3000786-3500785-3000785-3300786-3000787-3400775-3000776-3000777-3000786-3700785-3600785-3500786-3200787-3500784-3000
Seating capacity6510085100901007568646863100901008075
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, smoking roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking roomConductor's officeToilets, telephoneSmoking roomToilets, wheelchair space, multi-purpose roomTelephoneToilets Toilets, smoking room, telephone

Cars 5 and 12 each have one single-arm pantograph.

Fleet list

, the JR West N700A series fleet is as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredDate converted to N700A
K1Kawasaki Heavy Industries1 June 200719 December 2014
K2Kawasaki Heavy Industries10 July 200718 February 2015
K3Nippon Sharyo6 August 200713 March 2015
K4Nippon Sharyo9 October 200725 October 2013
K5Kawasaki Heavy Industries10 November 200718 December 2013
K6Kawasaki Heavy Industries13 September 200722 June 2015
K7Kawasaki Heavy Industries12 September 20074 September 2015
K8Kinki Sharyo31 January 20087 August 2014
K9Kawasaki Heavy Industries20 May 20087 March 2016
K10Kawasaki Heavy Industries17 November 200924 April 2014
K11Kawasaki Heavy Industries18 December 200911 December 2015
K12Kinki Sharyo28 January 20106 October 2014
K13Kawasaki Heavy Industries15 October 200912 March 2014
K14Kawasaki Heavy Industries28 February 201021 October 2014
K15Hitachi23 May 201019 November 2014
K16Hitachi14 December 20109 April 2015

8-car P sets (N700-6000 series "N700A")

  • 14 x 8 car sets
These are 8-car sets owned by JR West and converted from the original 16-car N700-5000 series K sets from fiscal 2025.
In an announcement made on 14 February 2024, JR West revealed plans to convert four existing 16-car N700 series sets into 8-car sets. This move is to be made in a bid to retire four of the remaining 500 series sets on the San'yo Shinkansen. The conversions of the first four sets are set to take place between 2024 and the end of 2026. JR West later announced on 24 July 2024 that ten more 16-car N700 series sets are also scheduled to be converted to 8-car sets from 2026 to 2029.
Cars 1 to 3, 8 to 11 and 16 of the original 16-car sets will be retained and renumbered in the -6000 sub-series. The first set, K4, was converted from December 2024 to March 2025 and re-designated as P4. The first of these sets was originally to begin service on 1 October 2025. However, set P4 began service on 12 September, more than two weeks before the planned start of service.

Formation

The 8-car P sets are formed as follows.
Car No.12345678
Numbering783-6000787-6000786-6000785-6000785-6500787-6500786-6700784-6000
Formerly783-5000
787-5000
786-5500
775-5000
776-5000
777-5000
786-5700
784-5000

Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Cars 4, 5 and 6 are former Green Cars.

Fleet list

Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredDate converted to N700ADate converted to 8 cars
P4Nippon Sharyo9 October 200725 October 201325 March 2025

8-car S sets (N700-7000 series)

  • 19 x 8-car sets, S1-S19
The N700-7000 series variant are 8-car sets operated by JR West on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between and on the Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011. The pre-series set was delivered to Hakata Depot in October 2008. These trains do not feature the tilting mechanism of the earlier N700 trains, as they do not run on the Tokaido Shinkansen.
External livery is pale blue intended to evoke the color of traditional porcelain with indigo and gold body side lining.
Full-production JR West sets were delivered to Hakata Depot from early April 2010. The final S set, S19, was delivered to Hakata Depot in February 2012.

Formation

The 8-car S sets, S1-S19, are formed as follows.
Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

These sets feature a Green car saloon in half of one car consisting of 24 seats arranged in 2+2 abreast configuration with wide seats and a seat pitch of. Cars 4 to 8 are designated as "reserved seating" cars with 2+2 abreast configuration, 465 mm wide seats and a seat pitch of 1,040 mm. Cars 1 to 3 are "non-reserved seating" cars with 2+3 abreast configuration, 440 mm wide seats and a seat pitch of 1,040 mm.

Fleet list

, the fleet consists of 19 sets, all based at Hakata Shinkansen Depot.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
S1Kawasaki/Kinki Sharyo/Nippon Sharyo24 October 2008
S2Kawasaki Heavy Industries20 April 2010
S3Nippon Sharyo12 July 2010
S4Kawasaki Heavy Industries22 June 2010
S5Kawasaki Heavy Industries4 August 2010
S6Kawasaki Heavy Industries14 September 2010
S7Kinki Sharyo17 November 2010
S8Kinki Sharyo14 January 2011
S9Nippon Sharyo16 February 2011
S10Nippon Sharyo12 April 2011
S11Kawasaki Heavy Industries30 May 2011
S12Kawasaki Heavy Industries24 June 2011
S13Kawasaki Heavy Industries11 July 2011
S14Kawasaki Heavy Industries1 August 2011
S15Kawasaki Heavy Industries3 October 2011
S16Kawasaki Heavy Industries23 October 2011
S17Nippon Sharyo15 November 2011
S18Kawasaki Heavy Industries23 January 2012
S19Hitachi27 February 2012

8-car R sets (N700-8000 series)

  • 11 x 8-car sets, R1-R11
These are eleven 8-car N700 series sets operated by JR Kyushu alongside JR West N700-7000 series "S" sets on through-running Sakura and Mizuho services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō on the Kyushu Shinkansen since 12 March 2011. External livery is identical to the N700-7000 series "S" sets.
The first set, R1, was delivered to Kumamoto Depot in July 2010. Test running on the unopened section of the Kyushu Shinkansen began on 31 August 2010.

Formation

The 8-car R sets are formed as follows.
Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

As with the JR West N700-7000 series sets, the R sets feature a Green car saloon in half of one car consisting of 24 seats arranged in 2+2 abreast configuration. Cars 4 to 8 are designated as "reserved seating" cars with 2+2 abreast configuration. Cars 1 to 3 are "non-reserved seating" cars with 2+3 abreast configuration.

Fleet list

, the fleet consists of 11 sets, all based at Kumamoto Shinkansen Depot.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
R1Hitachi11 December 2010
R2Hitachi23 November 2010
R3Hitachi6 December 2010
R4Kawasaki Heavy Industries27 November 2010
R5Kawasaki Heavy Industries18 December 2010
R6Hitachi31 January 2011
R7Kawasaki Heavy Industries12 January 2011
R8Kawasaki Heavy Industries4 February 2011
R9Kawasaki Heavy Industries18 February 2011
R10Kinki Sharyo11 February 2011
R11Kinki Sharyo6 July 2012

N700-I Bullet

This was a proposed export version of the N700 series design announced by JR Central Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai at an international high-speed railway symposium held in Nagoya on 16 November 2009. Nominally specified as an 8-car set with a maximum operating speed of 330 km/h, the train can be configured in lengths from 6 to 16 cars to suit customer requirements.
The same model was being considered in the developing Houston–Dallas Texas Central Railway, before focus shifted to the N700S due to its inherently modular construction, and higher top speed.

High-speed trials

On 16 November 2009, JR Central conducted a late-night high-speed demonstration run using N700 series trainset Z0, recording a maximum speed of 332 km/h on the Tokaido Shinkansen between and. The high-speed run was conducted as a demonstration for approximately 160 international guests attending a high-speed railway symposium in Nagoya.

Incidents

Fire damage and replacement

Car 783-2059 of JR Central set X59 was scrapped due to fire damage sustained in an arson attack occurring on 30 June 2015. A replacement car with the same running number was built by Nippon Sharyo in 2016.

Discovery of cracked bogie

On 11 December 2017, Car 785-5505 of JR West set K5 was taken out of service at Nagoya Station after engineers confirmed an unusual burning smell. The smell was detected at Kokura Station, but was ordered by the operational centre to continue service until Nagoya which JR West later admitted was a "big danger". An on-site inspection revealed that the outer frame of the carriage had cracked and its underfloor carriage was leaking oil. It was the first "serious incident" involving any Shinkansen, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism reported that the train could have derailed had it continued on service and the carriage frame broke. An investigation by JR West implicated companies involved in the construction of the trainset, which included Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Electric. The investigation revealed that at least 100 out of the 303 Kawasaki-made bogies were substandard due to improper welding preparations, which caused the base material of the bogies to become in thickness, instead of the required or more. Following the events JR West is planning to gradually replace all the bogies that were provided by Kawasaki.

Overall fleet history

The annual totals for the fleet sizes owned by JR Central, JR West, and JR Kyushu are as follows.
Year JR Central JR West JR KyushuTotal
2005160016
2006160016
2007160016
20082721280400
20095281520680
20101,04023201,272
20111,040328801,448
20121,296368801,744
20131,392408881,888
20141,504424882,016
20151,600424882,112
20161,696488882,272
20171,808552882,448
20181,920616882,624
20192,016680882,784
20202,096792882,976
20211,952792882,832
20221,744792882,624

Preserved examples

On display at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, from 17 July 2019:
  • 783-9001
  • 775-9001
  • '''786-9201'''