0 Series Shinkansen
The
0 Series Shinkansen were the first
trainsets built to run on Japan's new high speed rail network, and are therefore still the image of the
Shinkansen in the minds of most non-Japanese because of all the publicity they received when the first Shinkansen line began operation in
1964.
The 0 series (which were not originally so classed; there was no need to distinguish classes of trainset until later) entered service with the start of
Tokaido Shinkansen operations in 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, the Tokaido Shinkansen and all subsequent Shinkansen were
standard gauge (4'8½", 1,435 mm between the rails). The trains are all powered by 25 kV AC electricity at 60 Hz. On the 0 series, all axles of all cars are powered by 185 kW
traction motors; this is sufficient for a 220 km/h (136 mph) top speed.
The original trains were 12-car sets; some subsequent sets were 16 cars. Later, shorter trains of 6 cars and even 4 cars were assembled for lesser duties. Production of 0 series units continued from
1963 until
1986.
Existence as a Shinkansen train is tough; though most rail equipment has a service life of thirty or more years, Shinkansen sets are retired after fifteen, and they are generally removed from service after that point. All 0 series cars are now past fifteen years of service; therefore, few are left. The only 0 series sets now in use are 6 car sets used on
JR West Kodama services between Shin-Osaka and Hakata, and on the
Hakata Minami Line, which is technically not a Shinkansen line. Outside of Japan, the leading vehicle from a 0 series set can be found at the British
National Railway Museum in
York, which was donated by the JR West company in 2001.
The 0-series Shinkansen is said to be modeled after the
Douglas DC-8 jetliner (the first jetliner to go supersonic). After comparing the two, some similarities in the nose can indeed be seen.
