JR Central Reveals Next-Gen Linear Shinkansen

SHIZUOKA, Jul 28 (News On Japan) - JR Central has unveiled its latest test vehicle for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, introducing the newly developed M10 train designed to reduce environmental impact and operating costs.

The M10, revealed on July 25th, features a striking design highlighted by a flowing gold stripe along a raw silver exterior. The silver finish avoids the use of conventional paint, thereby reducing materials and weight. A key innovation is a special “sharkskin” film applied to the train’s surface, which cuts air resistance by approximately 1% for a 16-car trainset, contributing to greater energy efficiency.

JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa emphasized the company's focus on cost reduction across operations and maintenance once commercial services begin. “We have to think ahead to actual operations and upkeep,” said Niwa. “As the working population continues to decline, our aim is to minimize the need for manual labor wherever possible.”

The M10 will begin trial runs starting July 25th, with further refinements planned based on the results.

However, due to uncertainties surrounding construction in the Shizuoka section of the route, the earliest possible start of commercial service is now projected to be sometime after 2035.

Source: FNN

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