Fastech 360

Fastech 360 is the name given to a pair of former experimental high-speed EMU trainsets developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to test technology for the next-generation Shinkansen rolling stock. The name is a portmanteau of Fast, Technology, and 360 km/h (360 km/h or 225 mph), the target operational speed for production trains based on the new technologies. Speeds of up to 405 km/h (250 mph) were targeted during performance testing.^[1] Results of testing using these trains was incorporated into the E5 series and E6 series trains, entering revenue service from 2011, eventually operating at 320 km/h (200 mph).

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

Fastech 360 trains were equipped with emergency air braking plates like that of an aircraft, similar in appearance to the ears of a cat. This trait earned them a nickname of Nekomimi Shinkansen (猫耳新幹線), which literally means "cat-eared Shinkansen". This technology was not incorporated in the subsequent E5 series or E6 series trains.^{[citation needed]}

Class E954 "Fastech 360S"
The Fastech 360S train (stream-line end) at Omiya Station in May 2008
In service	2005–2009
Manufacturers	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Constructed	2005
Scrapped	2009
Number built	8 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	None
Number scrapped	8 vehicles
Formation	8 cars
Fleet numbers	S9
Operator	JR East
Depot	Sendai
Lines served	Tohoku Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Maximum speed	360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal)
Electric system	25 kV AC, 60 Hz Overhead catenary
Current collection	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

This 8-car set (S9) was delivered on 26 June 2005. Cars 1 to 3 were built by Hitachi, and cars 4 to 8 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.^[2]

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.^[3]

The train was withdrawn in September 2009 and scrapped.^[4]

1. E954-1 (T1c)
2. E954-2 (M1) (with pantograph)
3. E954-3 (M2) (with toilet)
4. E954-4 (M2)
5. E954-5 (M1s)
6. E954-6 (M2)
7. E954-7 (M1) (with pantograph)
8. E954-8 (T2c)

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  The car 8 end in February 2009 with the arrow-line profile leading
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  E954-3 (car 3) in April 2006, with the green-coloured seats visible
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Class E955 "Fastech 360Z"
The Fastech 360Z set S10 at Sendai Shinkansen Depot in July 2008
In service	2006–2008
Manufacturers	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Constructed	2006
Scrapped	2008
Number built	6 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	None
Number scrapped	6 vehicles
Formation	6 cars
Fleet numbers	S10
Operator	JR East
Lines served	Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Maximum speed	360 km/h (225 mph) (nominal) 130 km/h (80 mph) (Akita Shinkansen)
Electric system	25/20 kV AC, 50 Hz Overhead catenary
Current collection	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

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 Hitachi.^[5] The train was withdrawn in December 2008 and scrapped.^[2]

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shinkansen E954 and Shinkansen E955.

• Press release from JR East (in English)
• 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" (in Japanese)
• 新幹線高速試験電車E955形式 （FASTECH360Z）の概要 (in Japanese)
• Class E954 "Fastech 360 S" (Japan Railfan Magazine Online) (in Japanese)
• Class E955 "Fastech 360 Z" (Japan Railfan Magazine Online) (in Japanese)