Kawasaki Developing 217 MPH Train for Japan
The Railway Gazette reports that Kawasaki has unveiled a new high-speed train called the Environmentally Friendly Super Express Train (efSET). The train will travel at a speed of 217 MPH (350 km/h).
Kawasaki designed the train with a lightweight aerodynamic body to lower vibration and noise. It will also be equipped with regenerative braking that recycles kinetic energy generated by movement.
The Kawasaki train is even faster than Japan’s record-holding Shinkansen train, which travels at a speed of 186 MPH. In order to assure reliability of the new train, engineers will make use of components proven to work in the Shinkansen train network.
But Japanese train-riders will have settle for the Shinkansen train in the near future—the Kawasaki design won’t be finished until March 2009, and engineering verification won’t be completed until March 2010.
Americans—specifically, Californians—have to wait even longer for their 220 MPH high-speed train, which won’t be ready until 2030.
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September 20th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Wow, I know Kawasaki makes a mean motorcycle (ZX 10-R) so I guess their train would ROCK!
Jiff
http://www.anonweb.net.tc
September 20th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Niiiiiiiiice….
Hope the driver doesnt text message while is riding …
They did a story on it at http://www.MediaSignage.com
September 20th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I like the name, obviously Japanese, like super happy fun time luck show!!!
September 21st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
I really wish we would start implementing high speed trains in the US, sometimes we just aren’t forward thinking enough. Waiting too long to implement high speed rail into developed areas makes it very expensive because of the amount of redevelopment required to build them.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:51 am
Shinkanen means New Trunk Line – its a rail network not a railway train. There are or have been 15 different models of shinkansen train since the first line opened in 1964. This is the current future shinkansen design and it is only marginally faster than current ones because of issues around noise pollution (non-mechanical noise), wear and braking distances.
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
“It will also be equipped with regenerative braking that recycles kinetic energy generated by movement.”
Trains have been doing this for 20-30 years, and I’m not talking about TGVs, I’m talking about metros, suburban trains, etc…Referring to regenerative braking as a new feature is quite annoying.
October 13th, 2008 at 10:56 am
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July 22nd, 2009 at 4:48 am
Standing at the platformSHEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMAwesome L