The Class 952/953 Shinkansen, branded STAR21 (Superior Train for the Advanced Railway toward the 21st century), is an experimental high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company from March 1992 to February 1998.
History[]
The STAR21 was built starting in 1992 as a trainset which could mitigate issues of noise pollution and ground vibrations. The lone trainset, designated S5, was delivered in March 1992 and unveiled to the press that April; from there, test running would commence.
The trainset recorded a national speed record of 353.0 km/h (219.3 mph) on 30 October 1992 on the Jōetsu Shinkansen, beating the previous record of 350.4 km/h (217.7 mph) set by JR West's WIN350 set that August; the STAR21 broke its own record two days later with a speed of 358.0 km/h (222.5 mph).
Motors were added to all axles in 1993, which raised the trainset's power output. As a result of this, the STAR21 broke its own record again on 13 December 1993, when it reached 400.0 km/h (248.5 mph); it would break this record just 8 days later on 21 December the same year, with a speed of 425.0 km/h (264.1 mph), again on the Jōetsu Shinkansen. This record would stand until it was broken by the 300X trainset in 1996.
The train was officially withdrawn on 17 February 1998.
Design[]
These trainsets were radically different to the first generation of Shinkansen. Their shape departed the "bullet" shape of the first generation and replaced it with "duckbill-like" head/tail cars; both end cars were very different.
The set is unique in that it is arranged in two distinct "halves"; the Class 952 half-set consisted of four separate cars, while the Class 953 half-set consisted of five articulated cars with shared bogies. All nine cars of the set were fitted with seats.
Near the end of testing a third high-discharge headlight was added to the middle of the nosecone of 953-5.
Specifications[]
Construction is of an aluminum alloy or aircraft-style duralumin depending on the car. The train runs on 25 kV, AC 50 Hz power. Traction motors are GTO thyristor variable frequency drives with a total output of 4,620 kW (6200 hp). This was the first JR East Shinkansen set to use variable frequency drive technology.
Preservation[]
The following Class 952/953 Shinkansen cars have been preserved:
Car number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
952-1 | Nippon Sharyo | March 1992 | February 1998 | S5 | Railway Technical Research Institute wind tunnel facility, Maibara, Japan | Pointed nose design, preserved alongside 500-901 and 955-1; not usually open for public viewing |
953-1 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | Sendai General Shinkansen Depot, Sendai, Japan | Intermediate car, coupled to 953-5; not usually open for public viewing | |||
953-5 | Flat nose design, coupled to 953-1, commemorative speed record graphic on left side of car; not usually open for public viewing |
In addition, one of the set's Sumitomo DT9035B bogies is on display at the Nara National College of Technology.
Gallery[]
References[]
Shinkansen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Active | JR West | 500 • 700 • N700 • N700S • W7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | N700 • N700S | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Kyushu | N700 • N700S • 800 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Hokkaido | H5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | JR West | 0 • 100 • 300 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | 0 • 100 • 300 • 700 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Future | JR Central | L0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-revenue | JNR | 922 • 925 • 941 • 951 • 961 • 962 • 1000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
JR West | 922 • 923 • 500-900 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR East | 925 • 952/953 • E926 • E954 • E955 • E956 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
JR Central | 922 • 923 • 955 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
RTRI | FGT-9000 • GCT01 • GCT01-200 • ML100 • ML500 • ML500R • MLU001 • MLU002 • MLU002N • MLX01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | JR Central | Super Hikari Model |
JR East rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||
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Active | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: E2 • E3 • E5 • E6 • E7 • E8 Non-revenue Shinkansen: E926 • E956 Commuter: 701 • 719 • E721 Limited Express: E751 | ||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 115 • E127 • E129 • E131 • 205 • 209 • 211 • E217 • E231 • E233 • E235 Limited Express: 185 • 253 • E257 • E259 • E261 • E353 Non-revenue: 209-0 | |||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 415 • E501 • E531 Limited Express: E653 • E657 Charter: E655 Non-revenue: E491 • E493 | |||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 40 • KiHa 100 • KiHa 110 • KiHa E120 • KiHa E130 Non-revenue: KiYa E193 • KiYa E195 | |||||||||||||||
AC BEMUs | Commuter: EV-E801 | |||||||||||||||
DC BEMUs | Commuter: EV-E301 | |||||||||||||||
Hybrid MUs | Commuter: KiHa E200 • HB-E210 • GV-E400 Charter: E001 • HB-E300 Non-revenue: GV-E197 | |||||||||||||||
Fuel cell MUs | Non-revenue: FV-E991 | |||||||||||||||
Other MUs | Non-revenue: E991 | |||||||||||||||
Withdrawn | AC EMUs | Shinkansen: 200 • 400 • E1 • E4 Non-revenue Shinkansen: 925 • 952/953 • E954 • E955 Commuter: 715 • 717 Non-revenue: 740 • 743 | ||||||||||||||
DC EMUs | Commuter: 12 • 101 • 103 • 105 • 107 • 113 • 123 • 201 • 203 • 207 • 215 • 301 • E331 Limited Express: 157 • 165 • 167 • 169 • 183 • 189 • 251 • 255 • E351 Non-revenue: 90 • 143 • 145 • 193 • 901 • E993 | |||||||||||||||
Dual-current EMUs | Commuter: 417 • 451 • 453 • 455 • 457 Limited Express: 485 • 489 • 583 • 651 Non-revenue: 441 • 443 • 497 • E991 | |||||||||||||||
DMUs | Commuter: KiHa 20 • KiHa 35 • KiHa 37 • KiHa 38 • KiHa 45 Express: KiHa 58 Charter: KiHa 141 Non-revenue: KiYa 191 | |||||||||||||||
Hybrid MUs | Non-revenue: KiYa E991 • KuMoYa E995 | |||||||||||||||
Future | Hybrid MUs | Commuter: HB-E220 |
JR rolling stock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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