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ALFA-X
The Class E956 (Japanese: E956形), branded "ALFA-X", is a ten-car experimental Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan capable of operating at up to 400 kilometres per hour (250 mph) to test technologies for future trains capable of operating at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour (225 mph). The name is an acronym for "Advanced Labs for Frontline Activity in rail eXperimentation". The train was unveiled on 9 May 2019. Test runs are conducted primarily on sections of the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Sendai and Shin-Aomori, and occasionally on the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
The ALFA-X experimental trainset is being tested at speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph) to evaluate technologies intended for future trains operating in revenue service at speeds of up to 360 km/h (225 mph). These include vibration-damping systems designed to reduce oscillation and the risk of derailment during major earthquakes, as well as body designs intended to reduce snow adhesion. Some design features have not been publicly disclosed in order to protect ongoing technical research.
Much of the design changes and experimentation conducted with the ALFA-X focuses on reducing noise at very high operating speeds.
The ALFA-X evaluates two different end-car nose profiles, similar to those used on the earlier Fastech 360 experimental trains. The nose of car 1 is 16 metres (52 ft) long, comparable in length to that of the E5 series, but features a new, more angular profile. By contrast, the nose of car 10 uses the same "arrow-line" profile as the E5 series but is extended to 22 metres (72 ft), leaving only 4.5 metres (15 ft) for the passenger compartment, which accommodates just three rows of seating. The differing designs are intended to compare aerodynamic drag and the "tunnel boom" noises generated by pressure waves as trains enter and exit tunnels.
Cars 1–6 were manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, while cars 7–10 were manufactured by Hitachi. Among the intermediate cars, cars 3 and 7 have smaller windows to evaluate wind resistance, while car 5 has no windows. These cars are used to assess vehicle structure and interior environmental conditions based on window size and configuration. Car 8, a prototype Gran Class car, is divided into two compartments to allow comparative evaluation of passenger comfort. Testing equipment is installed in both lead cars (cars 1 and 10) as well as the central car (car 5).
The trainset is also equipped with different pantograph and sound-insulation fin configurations to assess noise generation and aerodynamic performance. Cars 3 and 7 are fitted with functional pantographs and sound-insulation fins, cars 4 and 6 are equipped with pantograph bases only, and car 5 carries a non-power-collecting pantograph.
The E956 incorporates eddy current brakes and an aerodynamic braking system mounted on the roof, commonly referred to as air brakes or spoilers.
JR East officially announced its plans to build a ten-car ALFA-X test train on 4 July 2017, to be delivered in spring 2019 for extensive testing and evaluation.
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ALFA-X
The Class E956 (Japanese: E956形), branded "ALFA-X", is a ten-car experimental Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan capable of operating at up to 400 kilometres per hour (250 mph) to test technologies for future trains capable of operating at speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour (225 mph). The name is an acronym for "Advanced Labs for Frontline Activity in rail eXperimentation". The train was unveiled on 9 May 2019. Test runs are conducted primarily on sections of the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Sendai and Shin-Aomori, and occasionally on the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
The ALFA-X experimental trainset is being tested at speeds of up to 400 km/h (250 mph) to evaluate technologies intended for future trains operating in revenue service at speeds of up to 360 km/h (225 mph). These include vibration-damping systems designed to reduce oscillation and the risk of derailment during major earthquakes, as well as body designs intended to reduce snow adhesion. Some design features have not been publicly disclosed in order to protect ongoing technical research.
Much of the design changes and experimentation conducted with the ALFA-X focuses on reducing noise at very high operating speeds.
The ALFA-X evaluates two different end-car nose profiles, similar to those used on the earlier Fastech 360 experimental trains. The nose of car 1 is 16 metres (52 ft) long, comparable in length to that of the E5 series, but features a new, more angular profile. By contrast, the nose of car 10 uses the same "arrow-line" profile as the E5 series but is extended to 22 metres (72 ft), leaving only 4.5 metres (15 ft) for the passenger compartment, which accommodates just three rows of seating. The differing designs are intended to compare aerodynamic drag and the "tunnel boom" noises generated by pressure waves as trains enter and exit tunnels.
Cars 1–6 were manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, while cars 7–10 were manufactured by Hitachi. Among the intermediate cars, cars 3 and 7 have smaller windows to evaluate wind resistance, while car 5 has no windows. These cars are used to assess vehicle structure and interior environmental conditions based on window size and configuration. Car 8, a prototype Gran Class car, is divided into two compartments to allow comparative evaluation of passenger comfort. Testing equipment is installed in both lead cars (cars 1 and 10) as well as the central car (car 5).
The trainset is also equipped with different pantograph and sound-insulation fin configurations to assess noise generation and aerodynamic performance. Cars 3 and 7 are fitted with functional pantographs and sound-insulation fins, cars 4 and 6 are equipped with pantograph bases only, and car 5 carries a non-power-collecting pantograph.
The E956 incorporates eddy current brakes and an aerodynamic braking system mounted on the roof, commonly referred to as air brakes or spoilers.
JR East officially announced its plans to build a ten-car ALFA-X test train on 4 July 2017, to be delivered in spring 2019 for extensive testing and evaluation.
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