L0 Series
The L0 Series (Japanese: L0系, Hepburn: Eru-zero-kei, "L zero series") is a high-speed maglev train that the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) is developing and testing. JR Central plans to use the L0 series on the Chūō Shinkansen railway line between Tokyo and Osaka, which is under construction.
| L0 Series | |
|---|---|
A test run of the Improved L0 Series, August 2020 | |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, Hitachi Rail |
| Constructed | 2011– |
| Entered service | 2011 2020 (improved) 2027 (passenger service) |
| Number built | 14 vehicles |
| Number in service | 12 vehicles (1 set) |
| Formation | Test: 5–12 cars Operation: 16 cars |
| Capacity | End cars: 24 Intermediate cars: 68 |
| Operators | JR Central |
| Lines served | Current: Yamanashi test track Future: Chūō Shinkansen |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 299 m (981 ft 0 in) (12-car formation) |
| Car length | 28 m (91 ft 10 in) (end cars) 24.3 m (79 ft 9 in) (intermediate cars) |
| Width | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Height | 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in) |
| Doors | 2 × 1 per car |
| Maximum speed | Design: 550 km/h (342 mph) Record: 603 km/h (375 mph) Operational: 500 km/h (311 mph) |
| Power supply | L0 series: gas turbine-electric Improved L0 series: unknown |
| Electric system(s) | 33 kV AC |
| Current collector(s) | L0 series: none Improved L0 series: induction (wireless power transfer) |
| Track gauge | SCMaglev guideway |
The L0 series uses the Japanese-designed SCMaglev system. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo, a subsidiary of JR Central, are building fourteen pre-production vehicles.
A seven-car train set a land speed record for rail vehicles of 603 km/h (375 mph) on 21 April 2015. The trains are planned to run at a maximum speed of 500 km/h (311 mph), offering journey times of 40 minutes between Tokyo (Shinagawa Station) and Nagoya, and 1 hour 7 minutes between Tokyo and Osaka.