Good Design Gold Prize 2007
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07A12022
Shinkansen Rolling Stock

Award Number : 07A12022

Name :

Shinkansen Rolling Stock

Brand/ Model No. :

Series N700

Company :

Central Japan Railway Company + West Japan Railway Company + NIPPON SHARYO,LTD. + Hitachi, Ltd. + Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. + The Kinki Sharyo Co.,Ltd.

Producer :

Central Japan Railway Company + West Japan Railway Company

Director :

Central Japan Railway Company + West Japan Railway Company

Designer :

Central Japan Railway Company + West Japan Railway Company + Transportation Design Organization

 

Outline

N700 series trains are the fastest next-generation bullet trains for direct service on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines. Based on the current 700 series (the main type offering high-speed service on these routes), the trains are designed to be faster and more comfortable, eco-friendly, and energy efficient. The trains offer an even more comfortable and convenient onboard environment that satisfies diverse passenger needs: fully non-smoking except in smoking rooms, more outlets for notebook computers, plentiful multi-purpose rooms and restrooms, new services drawing on advanced technology, and so on. (At the request of the operator, the price is not disclosed because the trains are not sold to the public.)

 

 

Designers Comment

N700 series trains were developed as the newest, fastest, and best bullet trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines. We sought an even more ideal form than the high-performance 700 series. To do it, we applied the best technologies to overcome the challenges involved - improving performance around curves, raising the maximum speed, providing a more comfortable onboard environment, and promoting greater eco-friendliness and energy efficiency.

 

 

Jury Comment

Japan's fast world-class railways have been updated, thanks to an infusion of the latest train technology. Although passengers can now arrive five minutes sooner when traveling between Tokyo and Osaka, the operator's unique approach to promoting the renewal focuses on new benefits for passengers other than a faster ride. In appearance, the radical elongated nose is a result of streamlining the train for better aerodynamics not only through open stretches of the route but also when entering and exiting tunnels. The front is unlike that of any other train, leaving no doubt about its performance. Moreover, the sleek white canopies between train cars create an impressive, seamless silhouette while reducing noise and improving energy efficiency; this model consumes 19% less energy than the 700 series. Inside, the most noticeable feature is the new seating, the developer's answer to how to make seats more comfortable and functional. Refinements in first-class cars in particular, including illumination at one's fingertips, make the train seem like a cozy library in transit. Difficult aspects of common areas such as restrooms, sinks, and smoking rooms are resolved on a structural level, and there is an ambiance of sophisticated interior design. The N700 series is new with a capital "N" and will shape transportation design in general significantly. [Akiko Moriyama, A12 unit leader]

 

 

 

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