Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed

EMU The emu () (''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is the second-tallest living bird after its ratite relative the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus '' Dromaius''. The ...

trainsets developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock. The name is a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of words Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series and E6 series trains, entering revenue service from 2011, eventually operating at . There were 2 trains: *Class E954 ''Fastech 360S'': 8-car set for use on shinkansen tracks only *Class E955 ''Fastech 360Z'': 6-car set for use on both shinkansen and Mini-shinkansen lines Shinkansen E954(fastech360S) arrow-line

Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking plates like that of an

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines. ...

, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of , which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the subsequent E5 series or E6 series trains.

Class E954 ''Fastech 360S''

This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by

Hitachi () is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Ni ...

, and cars 4 to 8 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Car E954-1 has a ''stream-line'' profile, reminiscent of the 500 series, and E954-8 has an ''arrow-line'' profile more reminiscent of the JR East E2 series and E4 series designs. The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped.

Formation

# E954-1 (T1c) # E954-2 (M1) (with pantograph) # E954-3 (M2) (with toilet) # E954-4 (M2) # E954-5 (M1s) # E954-6 (M2) # E954-7 (M1) (with pantograph) # E954-8 (T2c) File:Shinkansen E954 (Fastech360S) at Sendai.jpg, The car 8 end in February 2009 with the ''arrow-line'' profile leading File:E954 S9 E954-3 Sendai 20060421.jpg, E954-3 (car 3) in April 2006, with the green-coloured seats visible File:JRE E954-1.jpg File:FASTECH 360-S.JPG File:FASTECH 360 (4098392370).jpg file:E954-G.jpg file:E954-8.JPG File:E954 S9 Sendai 20060421.jpg File:E954FASTECH360Aerodynamicsbrakes.JPG

Class E955 ''Fastech 360Z''

This 6-car set (S10) was delivered on 6 April 2006. Cars 1 and 4 to 6 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and cars 2 and 3 were built by

The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.

Formation

# E955-1 (M2c) # E955-2 (M1s) # E955-3 (M1) (with pantograph and toilet) # E955-4 (M1) # E955-5 (M1) (with pantograph) # E955-6 (M2c)

References

External links

Press release from JR East

A bullet train... only with ears (BBC News)
* JR East press release
"新幹線高速試験電車 FASTECH 360 まもなくデビュー"

新幹線高速試験電車E955形式（FASTECH360Z）の概要

(Japan Railfan Magazine Online)

(Japan Railfan Magazine Online) {{Shinkansen Shinkansen train series East Japan Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2005 Experimental and prototype high-speed trains 20 kV AC multiple units 25 kV AC multiple units Hitachi multiple units Kawasaki multiple units