JR West (West Japan Railway Company) has recently announced that a new luxury high-speed train, that will have an open-air deck for passengers to take in the sights, will be introduced in the spring of 2017. Amongst other exclusive amenities, one of the train’s cars set will be designed for a single person.
Now that is what you call "travel big". The 10-car train can accommodate 30 passengers, six of them being designated sleeper cars, five of which have three compartments each. The most expensive is given over to a luxury suite comprising a bedroom, sitting room, closets and bathing area. The remaining cars will serve as a dining restaurant, a lounge and two viewing units, located at the extremes.
On the rear, passengers will be able to breathe in the fresh air while the train is running with more than 200 mph (321 km/h). The precise specifications of the green bullet are not quite ready. However, considering that the “Toreiyu” train, the newest fast train to start running in July, rolls with 220 mph (354 km/h) we are sure the this one is going to be even faster.
According to asahi.com, the sleek sleeper train, which is still in the design phase, will provide passengers with the chance to savor western Japan’s traditional arts, food and scenery. The luxury trains market in Japan is already popular and seems to be growing every year. As with Kyushu Railway Company’s luxury sleeper train, the Nanatsuboshi (Seven Stars), the target customers for JR West’s new train are recently retired people with money and time on their hands.
As we speak, top-notch designers are working to create the interior and exterior of the train. It will be painted green, so that it blends in with the surroundings.
Just a short reminder. It has been decades since Japan became famous in the entire world for their Shinkansen, a network of high-speed railway lines. Starting with the Tokaido Shinkansen (515.4 km/ 320 miles) in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of 2,387.7 km (1,483.6 mi) of lines with maximum speeds of 150-200 mph (240-320 km/h). The maximum operating speed is 200 mph (320 km/h), but test runs have reached 275 mph (443km/h).
All these considered, we must say there has to be a hell of a feeling staying on that deck when the Bullet is running.
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