Gauge Change Train

The Kikan Kahen Densha (Japanese轨 间 可 変 电车, dt " train with changeable track width "), even Gauge Change Train or Free Gauge Train (フリー ゲージ トレイン, Furi Geji Torein ), is a test train for the Japanese high-speed network with umspurbaren suspensions.

History

The conventional Japanese railway network has, due to the topography of Japan with many mountains and narrow, winding canyons a Kapspurbreite of 1067 mm. The Shinkansen high speed rail network, however, was built to standard gauge. For this reason, had the "mini- Shinkansen ", Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen, which originated on existing conventional railway lines are converted to 1435. In order to avoid this expense for future infrastructure expansion, began in 1994 with the Gauge Change Train project. Since 1994, around 32 billion yen ( € 300 million) were in the Gauge Change Train project invested (as at 2012)

The concept of Kikan Kahen Densha is comparable to the Spanish Talgo, for example, the RENFE Series 120 So far three test trains were built. The first train was in use from 1998 to 2006, the second from 2006 to 2013. Starting in 2014, the third test train is to bring the technology to the production stage in order to then begin the development and design of production vehicles can. In addition to the planned use of Kikan Kahen Densha on the Nagasaki route of the Kyūshū Shinkansen expected from 2023 would be another possible use, for example, the long-planned southern section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

First test train ( 1998-2006)

The construction of the first Versuchszugs was completed in October 1998. It consisted of two power cars and intermediate cars and was designed for a maximum speed of 300 km / h on Shinkansen lines and 130 km / h on conventional lines. The development of the test train was carried out by the Railway Technical Research Institute ( RTRI ), the construction was carried out by a consortium of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo and Tokyu Car Corporation.

Following the presentation in Tokyo in January 1999, the train was first tested on the San'in Main Line at a maximum of 100 km / h. In April 1999, the train was shipped to the U.S., where he was stationed until January 2001 for high speed tests in the Transportation Technology Center in Pueblo, Colorado. He achieved a maximum speed for continuous operation of 246 km / h laid back about 600,000 miles and accomplished about 2000 Umspurungen.

As of May 2003, the train was again in Japan, where he completed tests on the Yosan line. This ended in 2006 when he was succeeded by the second test train. All of the cars GCT01 - 01 to -03 of the first test train are preserved and off.

2 test train (2006-2013 )

Originally the second test train should be completed in 2004, but was not delivered until 2006. In May 2007, he was officially presented to the press. The second test train is based on the Shinkansen Series E3 and in addition to the two power heads GCT01 -201 and -203 on a regular passenger intermediate car with 36 seats ( GCT01 -202 ).

After the second test train was first tested on conventional lines, he was from June 2009 on the Kyushu Shinkansen in test mode, where he was operated at a maximum speed of 270 km / h.

2011, the set was equipped with lighter bogies in order to achieve a higher smoothness for curves with radii less than 600 m. As of August 2011, the train was at night on the Yosan line at a maximum of 130 km / h on the way to perform endurance tests. By September 2013, the second test train has so provided a total of approximately 100,000 km mileage.

The experience with the second test train went into the development of the successor by a JTRI with which the technology is to be made ​​ready for production.

GCT01 -202, September 2012

GCT01 -201, September 2012

3 test train ( 2014 )

During the fiscal year 2014 to come to Kyushu to use a third test train. The aim is to bring the automatic Umspurtechnologie for series production in order to go into the development of production vehicles for the Nagasaki route of the Kyūshū Shinkansen from 2017 can. In the approximately 110 km long Nagasaki route that is expected to go into operation in 2023, around 66 km between the stations Takeo Onsen and Nagasaki be developed as a full standard gauge Shinkansen line. On the remaining 45 km between Takeo havens and Shin Tosu, where the connection is made to the Kagoshima route, however, the existing Cape gauge track should continue to be used.

For the testing of the third test train Shin- Yatsushiro was built on the Kagoshima route of the Kyūshū Shinkansen a Umspuranlage at the station, so that he or she can switch from the Shinkansen to the kapspurige Kagoshima Main Line. The four-car train has a gold colored base coat with one dark red stripes on the roof and side aprons. In February 2014, manufactured by Kawasaki HI train at JR Kyushu was transferred.