Shinkansen 0 Series

The trains were the first generation Shinkansen trainsets built to run on Japan's Tōkaidō Shinkansen high-speed line which opened in 1964. The last remaining trainsets were withdrawn in 2008 after 44 years of service.

History

The 0 series trains (which were not originally classified, as there was no need to distinguish classes of trainset until later) entered service with the start of Tōkaidō Shinkansen operations in October 1964. These units were white with a blue stripe along the windows and another at the bottom of the car body, including the front pilot.

Unlike previous Japanese trains on the national network, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and all subsequent Shinkansen lines are between the rails. The trains were powered by 25 kV AC electricity at 60 Hz with all axles of all cars powered by traction motors, giving a operation top speed.

The original trains were introduced as 12-car sets, with some sets later lengthened to 16 cars. Later, shorter trains of six cars and even four cars were assembled for lesser duties. Production of 0 series units continued from 1963 until 1986.

Shinkansen sets are generally retired after fifteen to twenty years. The final remaining 0 series sets were six-car sets used on JR-West '' Kodama'' services on the San'yō Shinkansen between and , and on the Hakata-Minami Line until their retirement on 30 November 2008.

Following retirement from regular service, JR-West ran a number of special commemorative ''Hikari'' runs in December 2008. ''Hikari'' 347, powered by set R61, arrived at Hakata Station at 6:01 pm on 14 December 2008, bringing to an end the 44 years of service of the 0 series trains.

Set formations

Original 12-car H/K/N/R/S sets

The initial shinkansen fleet delivered for use on ''Hikari'' and '' Kodama'' services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen from 1 October 1964 consisted of 30 12-car sets formed of 1st- and 2nd-batch cars. Six sets, H1 to H6, were built by Hitachi between April and August 1964; six sets, K1 to K6, were built by Kisha between July and September 1964; six sets, N1 to N6, were built by Nippon Sharyo between March and September 1964; six sets, R1 to R6, were built by Kawasaki Sharyo between July and September 1964; and six sets, S1 to S6, were built by Kinki Sharyo between April and August 1964. These sets were allocated to Tokyo and Osaka depots.

A further ten 12-car sets (H7/8, K7/8, N7/8, R7/8, S7/8) were delivered between April and July 1965, formed of 120 3rd-batch cars; five 4th-batch sets were delivered between June and July 1966, and five 5th-batch sets were delivered between October and November 1966.

The original 12-car sets were formed as follows, with two first-class cars (type 15 and 16) and two buffet cars (type 35):

12-car H/K/N/R/S/T ''Kodama'' sets

A further 21 6th- to 9th-batch 12-car sets were delivered between 1967 and 1969 with only one first-class car (type 16) for use on ''Kodama'' services. The "T" sets were built by Tokyu Car Corporation.

These sets were formed as follows:

16-car H/K/N/R/S ''Hikari'' sets

The original 30 12-car sets were lengthened to 16 cars between December 1969 and February 1970 with the inclusion of new 10th-batch cars for ''Hikari'' services to handle the increased number of passengers travelling to and from Expo '70 in Osaka in 1970. From the opening of the San'yō Shinkansen in 1972, these sets were renumbered H1 to H30:

16-car K ''Kodama'' sets

During 1972 and 1973, the earlier 12-car ''Kodama'' sets were lengthened to 16 cars with the inclusion of new 13th- and 15th-batch cars, and were renumbered K1 to K47:

16-car H ''Hikari'' restaurant car sets

With the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen extension to Hakata, the fleet of 16-car H ''Hikari'' sets was reformed and increased during 1973 and 1974 with the inclusion of new 16th- and 17th-batch cars, including new restaurant cars (type 36) in addition to the buffet car (type 35). The fleet, as of 10 March 1975, consisted of 64 sets, numbered H1 to H64:

16-car N_H ''Hikari'' sets

Between 1977 and 1980, 35 new 16-car N_H sets were formed of −1000 subseries cars (batches 22 to 29) for ''Hikari'' services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and San'yō Shinkansen lines. The introduction of 100 series and later 300 series trains reduced the number of 0 series trains used on ''Hikari'' services, with 0 series ''Hikari'' services operated by JR Central ending in 1995. A small fleet was subsequently maintained by JR-West for use on additional holiday period ''Hikari'' services, with the last remaining unit, N_H32, being disbanded in December 1999.

The N_H sets had two Green (first class) cars and a restaurant car in addition to a buffet car, although use of the restaurant cars was discontinued from the mid-1990s.

File:Shinkansen 15-1019 01.jpg, Interior of Green car 15-1019 of set N_H15 in 1982
File:Shinkansen 25-526 01.jpg, Interior of standard class car 25-526 of set N_H15 in 1982
File:0 series NH restaurant car 19920817.jpg, Interior view of an NH set restaurant car in 1992

16-car Y_K sets

The 16-car Y_K sets were operated by JR Central on the all-stations ''Kodama'' services. These sets had upgraded reserved seat cars with 2+2 seating employing 100 series style seats, but only one Green car per 16-car set. Standard seating was 3+2 in standard class and 2+2 in Green cars.

The fleet was operated by JR Central on the Tokaido Shinkansen until the last units were withdrawn on 18 September 1999. In the last two months of service, they ran with "Arigatō 0 Series" stickers on the front ends.

Interior

File:0-yk-green.jpg, Interior of a Green car on a YK set in September 1999

12-car S_K sets

These 12-car S_K sets based at Hakata Depot were operated by JR-West on Sanyo Shinkansen '' West Hikari'' services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Sets were formed of upgraded 5000 and 7000 subseries vehicles with improved seating and buffet cars were refurbished with a special seating area. All standard class cars had upgraded 2+2 seating. The sets were recognisable externally by the addition of an extra thin blue line below the windows (similar to 100 series) and by the large "West" decals near the doors. Some sets originally included specially converted cinema cars, but these were withdrawn in 1996. Following the end of the ''West Hikari'' services on 21 April 2000, the remaining S_K units were reformed into new 6-car R60 sets to replace unrefurbished sets on Sanyo Shinkansen ''Kodama'' services.

4-car Q sets

4-car Q sets were formed from March 1997 for use on ''Kodama'' shuttle services running between Hakata and /, and on the Hakata-Minami Line. These sets had no Green car and are not newly built; instead, they are reformed from original sets. These sets were quickly reaching the end of useful lives, so the 100 series 4-car P sets replaced them from 2000 onwards. The last remaining unit was withdrawn in September 2001. Set Q3 remained as a static training set at Shin-Shimonoseki Station until 2009, when it was replaced by 100 Series set P2.

6-car R sets

The 6-car R units with no Green car were first formed in June 1985 and were used on JR-West ''Kodama'' services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. They were also used to operate ''Kodama'' shuttle services on the short Hakata-Minami Line from Hakata station.

The no. 3 cars of sets R2 and R24 were rebuilt as "Children's Saloons" with the former buffet counter area converted into a children's soft play area. These sets ran branded as "Family Hikari" during holiday periods. From March 1997 a refurbishment programme was commenced on the R sets, with new internal trim, rotating seats and new toilets/washing facilities. The refurbished units were recognisable externally by an extra thin blue line below the windows (as with ''West Hikari'' S_K sets) and new "W" decals near the doors.

From April 2000, 6-car "WR" sets were created from former S_K unit cars and renumbered in the R60 series. These retained the larger buffet area (disused) and 2+2 seating of the former ''West Hikari'' trains, and gradually replaced the remaining unrefurbished R sets. These units initially retained their "West Hikari" branding, but were gradually repainted into the new JR-West "Kodama" livery from May 2002. Initially scheduled to be withdrawn in 2006, the last three remaining sets (R61/R67/R68) remained in service until 30 November 2008. By June 2008, they had been repainted into their original ivory and blue livery with silver roofs.

Since the R sets were only six cars long, there were cases where the emergency coupler in the leading car was used in commercial operation. Set R51 (first generation) of the "West Hikari" was not converted to 12 cars, but was instead left as a six-car train, and was only operated once a day. During peak times, in order to increase capacity, the leading car 22-3901 (16-133 converted to a leading car) on the Tokyo side was coupled to set R23 on the Hakata side, which had a strengthened coupler (the leading car 21-7001 on the Hakata side of set R51 was also modified in the same way). When operated as a 12-car train, set R23 had unreserved seats and set R51 had reserved seats. The organization chart in the large timetables of the time indicated that “6-car Kodama-type trains may be coupled on some days."

Interior

File:0 series R61 interior 20030719.JPG, 2+2 seating in set R61 in July 2003
File:0 series R62 37-7302 Himeji 20020518.jpg, Interior of former buffet car 37-7302 in set R62 used as a general lounge area in May 2002

Preserved examples

Owing to its extensive usage and long service life, a large number of 0 Series units have been preserved, with a total of 25 in preservation:
* 23 former vehicles are preserved or stored in museums and various other locations around Japan.
* The leading vehicle from car 4 of set Q2 is preserved at the National Railway Museum, in York, England. It was donated to the museum by JR-West in 2001, and is the first Shinkansen unit (of any series) to be preserved at a museum outside Japan.
* The leading vehicle from car 4 of set R1 is preserved at Tainan HSR station in Tainan, Taiwan. It was formerly used as a structure gauging car from 2004, during construction of the Taiwan High Speed Rail, and was formally donated to Taiwan in 2012. Restoration work was completed from 2018 to 2019, before the car was put on display on 22 December 2023.

See also

* List of high-speed trains

References

Citations

Sources

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{{JR-West rolling stock

Central Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
Hitachi multiple units
Shinkansen train series
Nippon Sharyo multiple units
Kawasaki multiple units
Kinki Sharyo multiple units
Tokyu Car multiple units
25 kV AC multiple units
Train-related introductions in 1964
Passenger trains running at least at 200 km/h in commercial operations
Rolling stock innovations
Kisha Seizo multiple units