N700S Trains to be Equipped with Infrastructure Diagnostics Equipment

The Japanese railway company JR Central is set to revolutionize its approach to high-speed Shinkansen infrastructure diagnostics, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The legendary Dr Yellow measurement train will be replaced by modern N700S electric trains equipped with the latest monitoring systems.

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This move will significantly increase the frequency of inspections and reduce the costs associated with operating special trains.

Currently, Dr Yellow, consisting of seven cars, performs checks on the contact network and tracks every ten days.

However, its time is running out: the company plans to completely retire the train from service on its lines by 2025.

Instead, regular N700S trains will take on the role of infrastructure diagnostics.

These high-speed trains, capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, will begin performing monitoring tasks with greater regularity and precision.

Development of the onboard monitoring system for the N700S began in early 2024.

The introduction of the first trains of this model on JR Central’s railway network began in the summer of 2020.

Since then, the company has been actively developing and refining diagnostic technologies, making them more efficient and suitable for use on regular services.

JR Central expects that the new systems will not only reduce operational costs but also significantly enhance safety.

The N700S trains equipped with diagnostic equipment will check the infrastructure much more frequently than before.

As a result, the company will be able to quickly identify any deviations and address them before they lead to serious consequences.

The railway company JR West, which operates a similar Dr Yellow train, also plans to discontinue its use in the coming years.

Preliminary data suggests that the last run of this train might take place in 2027.

Thus, the era of Dr Yellow is gradually coming to an end, giving way to new technologies and approaches to infrastructure diagnostics.

Using regular trains for track and contact network inspections is an important step in the development of railway transport.

It allows for significant reductions in time and financial costs for infrastructure maintenance while simultaneously improving its reliability and safety.

JR Central and JR West, Japan’s two largest railway companies, are demonstrating their commitment to innovation by implementing advanced technologies in their operations.

In the coming years, these changes may become a standard for railway operators worldwide.

Photo: JR Central

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