http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/ Engadget Comments for Type N700 bullet train is Japan's fastest yet http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
And the essential thing here is that they've introduced new technology and pushed the envelope a bit. And about the French: while they are doing a great job with their TGV:s, and I definitely wouldn't belittle their achievement in getting that speed record, we have to remember that it was a one-off stunt with a specially modified train - the improvements we see from the Japanese here are measured from actual train in regular passenger service, on the maiden voyage it carried 1300(!) passengers.

For comparison, while the experimental TGV managed 357 mph top speed, their fastest scheduled service (Lyon - Aix-en-Provence) reached a record in 2005, running at an average speed of 163 mph and reaching a top speed of 198 mph.

BTW, still waiting for the Americans to get on board the train of fast trains.... ]]>Jul 3rd 2007 9:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
The universe falls apart in Japan if a train is so much as two minutes late.]]>Jul 3rd 2007 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 12:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
Between GM/oil ripping up tracks, a general opinion that riding the train (and mass transit) as ghetto and only for the low income, conservatives such as in Orange County consider it a money pit and actively fight against it and anything else that pulls them from their precious cars, it's gonna take a while for civilization to come.

They rather circle for 10s of minutes to find parking at those huge shopping malls/stadiums/etc where half the land is just for parking, spend up to 10% of their work hours crawling through traffic in their shiny luxury cars and more just to get through a major concert/game, and build up a lot of bulk from all that luxurious lack of walking.]]>Jul 5th 2007 7:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/]]>Jul 3rd 2007 9:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
PS I am German so I guess I have been to Europe]]>Jul 3rd 2007 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/also, you are incorrect about derailments. CSX freight holds that title.
Amtrak's Auto Train hold the distinction of being the longest passenger train in the U.S. at a little more than 3/4 of a mile long and is a express service. (no stops except at origination, and terminus. There's your U.S. Record. : )
]]>Jul 3rd 2007 9:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/They suck at fighting throughout history, so they needed a fast get away. : )
Other than that, They build a fine rail set. Keep an eye on china though with their speed challenging mag lev from germany that goes from the international airport in Pudong to Shanghi.]]>Jul 3rd 2007 9:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 12th 2007 12:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6262236.stm
]]>Jul 3rd 2007 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/- TGV-Est and duplex trains (duplex: they are built with two stages like good ol' red London buses) run at 320 kmph
- every other TGV trains run at 300 kmph. And have done so for nearly 10 years now!.

Top speed isn't everything though, this table shows speed from station to station (acceleration, top speed, breaking phase included) for many countries throughout the world:

http://www.railwaygazette.com/Articles/2005/11/01/1222/2005+World+Speed+Survey+tables.html
]]>Jul 3rd 2007 11:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
http://internet.watch.impress.co.jp/cda/news/2006/03/31/11463.html

]]>Jul 3rd 2007 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northeast_Corridor]]>Jul 3rd 2007 10:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 12:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
Wikipedia Fastech 360. Thats a faster one that the Japanese are working on right now.]]>Jul 3rd 2007 10:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
Very enjoyable :3]]>Jul 3rd 2007 11:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
And anyway, every bloke likes trains - now when's traingadget coming online?]]>Jul 3rd 2007 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 11:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
The Shinkansen uses standard gauge (4'8.5") track manufactured to very tight tolerances. It does *not* use wide gauge track - normal Japanese trains simply use narrow gauge track (3'6"). Shinkansen track is the same gauge as US rail.]]>Jul 3rd 2007 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
For most train connections the limitations in speed don't actually come from the engine, they come from other traffic and of course track conditions - for high speeds the curves must be tilted (although some fast trains have tilting bodies so that they can run faster on older tracks, and so that the track can be used on slow speeds for freight trains, that can't take too much tilt) and not too tight. In many places the main obstacle for faster train traffic are level crossings - substituting them with bridges or underpasses is costly and often impractical, yet they are a safety risk and a limiting factor to train speeds. ]]>Jul 3rd 2007 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 11:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
When is tobacco going to become illegal?]]>Jul 3rd 2007 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/
What I did do allready was take a ride on the transrapid test track in Germany (yeah, the one where the accident with the service train happened). While the train was happely traveling through a steep corner at 250 km/h (155 Mph) and topping out on that test run at 390 km/h (240 Mph) it was just utterly relaxing... And at a certain moment when decelerating it felt like we were going at 50 km/h, we were actually traveling at 150 km/h :-P

Too bad there are still too many barriers for implementing this great system, which has much better acceleration, less noise, slightly lower power consumsumption, a better ride, less maintainance and better safety (as long as you don't leave service carts on wheels on the track...) The fact that you can't transport goods and that it proves an issue at stations (you can't manouver to a halt over rails) weighs heavily...]]>Jul 3rd 2007 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 4:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 6:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 3rd 2007 7:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/Jul 6th 2007 1:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/03/type-n700-bullet-train-is-japans-fastest-yet/http://japansugoi.com/wordpress/japans-newest-shinkansen-bullet-train-the-n700-videos/]]>Jul 18th 2007 3:46AM