The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Japan bites the bullet anew ahead of Tokyo Olympics
When Tokyo last hosted the Olympic Games in 1964, Japan proudly unveiled to the world its first bullet trains – the ultimate symbol of the nation’s sky-high post-war recovery.
Fast-forward more than 50 years and as Japan prepares to host the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, its white-nosed shinkansen are once again in the spotlight – with plans to launch its first fully remodelled bullet train in 13 years at the same time.
The new N700S (the “S” stands for “supreme”) fleet will run from July on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which links Tokyo with Osaka – the same route used by the first bullet train.
Dubbed the nation’s “new generation bullet train”, the N700S is packed with cutting-edge upgrades to reduce noise and air resistance alongside a raft of interior tweaks.
There are power sockets on every armrest, lockable luggage space, automatically tilting backrests and a built-in lithium ion battery system in case of power cuts.
Not to forget its distinct white nose: stretching to more than 35ft in length, it is more angular than before, with its distinctive form reportedly designed to boost its aerodynamic performance.
The shiny new train fleet is capable of travelling at a speed of 224mph, a record for a bullet train – although the maximum speed of its regular services will be set at 177mph.
These changes may appear subtle but are clearly designed to create a bullet train trip that is smoother, safer and more comfortable than ever before – while simultaneously celebrating Japan’s continued status as gold-medal masters of high-speedtrain technology.