Japan Keeps Building THIS High-Speed Train - But Is It still Good?

[@RicciChoi1109]

Hikari Rail Star is mainly replaced by Mizuho since Kyushu Shinkansen was fully commenced to service in 2011. However, all the planned ceremonies were cancelled because the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami took place just a day earlier.

[@watcherzero5256]

The Wi-Fi is fast but intermittent as it doesn't work in tunnels and Shinkansen routes have a lot of tunnels. The sink in the corridor outside the toilet continues on the newer varieties despite no longer having a urinal, there also used to be payphones near the doors at the ends of carriages until very recently.

[@maxjohkna]

the rollbar in the accessible toilet becomes extra useful in case of a derailment

[@LouisChang-le7xo]

which is unlikely because japan, not america

[@LGVRhin-Rhone]

At the moment there are only four services per day on the Sanyo Shinkansen that you can book the private compartments. The room costs four times that of a normal seat, but since it's intended to be used by four people it would pan out to be the same price. You can also use this room for cheap on the route from Hakata to Hakata Minami for just €1.9 (¥330)

[@Simon-Andersen]

Thanks, I knew I could count on a comment from you clarifying it ❤️👍

[@sotasppapsaterlight4174]

It sad they retired the 16cars😢

[@LGVRhin-Rhone]

@@sotasppapsaterlight4174 true :'(

[@VietTheKong]

Personally I like the aerodynamic design of the 700 series over the newer N700 series. The nose is not that long but it still gives a sense of smooth airflow. But it's not like the stubby 300 series. I just like the Dr. Yellow 700 series that runs up and down the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen

[@junkjunk1174]

Please do a video about the weird IC2-trains on Lollandsbanen!

[@ludwigtails]

Here is some bit more mention to explain about the 700 series Shinkansen you’re on. 10:02 these room are special to the 700 series RailStar sets (current Shinkansen in the video). As the 16 car versions doesn’t have these. These room and RailStar exist was JR West’s attempt to compete with air travel in Japan. These originally run the service “Hikari RailStar” it’s basically a special named hikari train. However it was because of the 8 Car N700 that goes to Kyushu have somewhat same stopping pattern as a Hikari service, meaning rendering hikari services on the Sanyo Shinkansen section completely redundant (expection to hikari trains that runs all the way to Tokyo). Which meant these 700 series were reallocated to Kodama services along with the 500 series. Some only very very occasionally at a specific time does Hikari Railstar services. 7:43 would’ve recommend you to put the 16 car versions instead as those are the first versions of the 700 series before the railstars came in. Also a little fact. All of JR west’s Shinkansen are future proof for a future 16 car to 8 car conversion. The other 8 (or so) 700 series from the B sets were modified and ran as 700 series E set aka the railstar sets.

[@Sacto1654]

Correct. The original _Hikari Rail Star_ operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata skipped many stations along the way and were equipped with more comfortable seating to entice passengers from flying on airliners between Osaka and Hakata. Sadly, I think these 700 Series, along with the 500 Series, train sets will likely be retired by 2026 as they are replaced with refurbished and shortened N700A train sets. We will also see the N700A train sets replaced by N700S train sets over the next 4-5 years.

[@ludwigtails]

@@Sacto1654 500 are sure getting kicked in 2026 (which is a big shame, but they have been living on borrowed time for a long time now). Pretty sure the 700 have still a couple miles kicking.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Thanks for clarifying, interesting and complicated history

[@lzh4950]

@@Sacto1654 I also remember that Rail Star is a more tourist-oriented service

[@Sacto1654]

@@lzh4950 No, I tnink _Hikari Rail Star_ was also a more business-oriented service. Note many of the cars had 2+2 seating more associated with the Green car seating found on N700, N700A and N700S train sets.

[@ianm3959]

Hey Simon, thanks for another great video - they're always very informative and well put together. Your English is excellent, expressions like "the crack of dawn" are not something I'd expect a non-native speaker to use. Did you live in in an English speaking country for a while?

[@LouisChang-le7xo]

hes from denmark

[@Simon-Andersen]

Thanks! No actually, spent most of my life in Denmark and a bit in Finland, but I speak English frequently in my daily life so that probably helped

[@durbodill]

The younger generation in Europe soaks up English through the Internet, especially KZbin. My kids started being proficient in it at a comparatively young age, the youngest still being in elementary school. Yes, his English is good, but that is generally widespread in western Europe.

[@lzh4950]

For the 700 series _Shinkansen_ (the original one, not the newer N700(A*/S) ones) only the 1st & last rows in each car have power outlets. & I think they are also the last _Shinkansen_ to have squat toilets but no bidets/toilet seat warmers. & I guess that the multi-purpose room is a euphemism for "nursing room/sick bay" *By the way I also remember that all N700 _Shinkansen_ have been upgraded to N700A spec, with more energy efficient propulsion equipment, while some brand-new rolling stock built to N700A standard were also built in 2013

[@789know]

Technically not all. The 8 car n700 varaint for Kyushu route isn't upgraded

[@arabiki234]

There is another reason why the car number of the new cars will remain the same as 700. 800 is the number already used for Kyushu Shinkansen cars, and 900 is the number used for inspection cars. And since JR Tokai & JR West basically do not use car numbers over 1000 The 700 is added to the alphabet to classify the new cars. 新型車両の車両番号が700のまま変わらないのは、別の理由もあります。 800は九州新幹線の車両で既に使用されている番号で、900は検査車両などに使用される番号です。 そして、JR東海&JR西日本では、1000を超える車両番号は基本的に使用していないため 700にアルファベットを追加する方法で、新型車両の区分を行っています

[@ludwigtails]

Will you be doing a review on the 500 series Shinkansen?

[@Simon-Andersen]

Yes, it's been filmed so it's coming when I get a chance to edit it 👍

[@officialmcdeath]

Thanks for the history lesson, very digestible - still a very usable train, despite its age - my one minus would be the toilet layout - not very sanitary to be exiting a toilet area and then entering a separate room to wash your hands, oh well . . . . \m/

[@MatthiasBlume]

The toilets (both the regular ones as well as the urinals) have their own sinks for washing your hands. You can see them in the video.

[@gardivor5245]

Day 1 of asking for a IC2 video

[@Simon-Andersen]

The wait is over kzbin.info/www/bejne/jIO3iYFvn6yYjLssi=svTxOeU4qp-V35Dt

[@gardivor5245]

@@Simon-Andersen Nah not that ic2, the private ic2 based on the ic3

[@Braveplantt]

me who calls it new osaka:

[@LGVRhin-Rhone]

me who calls shinjuku 'new inn':

[@RealisticMgmt]

@@LGVRhin-Rhone me who calls it "east capital"

[@hunterkiller009]

You should have called it 'new big hill'.

[@Charlizzie]

Glad the vlog was made by a non-Japanese. I would certainly be uncomfortable to watch if the vlog was made by a Japanese person. Lots of censorship to expect.

[@LouisChang-le7xo]

? i always thought there reviews were a bit npc because they usually just have captions

[@Simon-Andersen]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!