Japan's Shinkansen Supreme bullet train was introduced in a prototype recently, offering a preview of the train that will debut in 2020.
The new high-speed Shinkansen N700S, which will run between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, boasts a number of advancements to its predecessor, the N700A series, CNN noted.
The sleeker and quieter train model was unveiled Saturday, The Asahi Shimbun reported.
"The N700S series has been completely redesigned through renovating main facilities and equipment," said Masayuki Ueno, deputy director-general of JR Tokai's Shinkansen Operations Division, according to The Asahi Shimbun. "We have produced a train that can symbolize a new era for the Tokaido Shinkansen Line."
Ueno said the new 16-car model retained certain elements from the previous series but also featured new designs that made the train sleeker, lighter and more energy efficient, The Railway Gazette noted.
Key concepts behind the N700 series are speed, comfort and energy efficiency.
According to an overview of the series, the design concepts were centered around cutting-edge rolling stock that run on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines "at the highest possible speeds," as well as "improvements to comfort in passenger cabins," and "compatibility with the environment and improvement of energy-saving features."
The new Supreme series is 11 tons lighter, which results in less energy consumption, and features a sharper nose design to reduce noise and lessen air resistance when entering tunnels, CNN reported.
Despite this, the new model retains the same maximum speed as older generation models, which reached up to 300km/h.
By including only two car types in the Supreme series' design, JR Tokai is hoping this will boost sales to other railway operators by offering flexible variations such as an eight-car train and a 12-car train, the Asahi Shimbun reported.
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