Gauge Change Train
Encyclopedia
The Gauge Change Train or is the name given to a Japanese project started in 1994 to develop a high-speed train with variable gauge axles to allow inter-running between the standard gauge
Shinkansen
network, and the narrow gauge
provincial network.
Two three-car "GCT" electric multiple unit
trains have been built for testing. The first train was built in 1998 and withdrawn in 2006. A second train was built in 2006, and, as of August 2011, is still undergoing testing.
The train was formed as follows:
After preparation at the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) in Kokubunji, Tokyo
, the train was moved to JR West tracks in January 1999 for testing on the Sanin Line at speeds of up to 100 km/h. From April 1999, the train was shipped to the Transportation Technology Center
in Pueblo, Colorado
, United States
for an extended period of high-speed endurance running until January 2001. Here, it recorded a maximum speed of 246 km/h and ran a total distance of approximately 600,000 km, with approximately 2,000 axle gauge changing cycles.
From May to June 2003, the train was tested for the first time in Shikoku
, running late at night on the Yosan Line
between Sakaide Station and Matsuyama Station
.
Testing ended in 2006, after which the train was stored at JR Kyushu's Kokura
Works. In April 2007, the train was moved to storage at JR Shikoku's Tadotsu Works.
This train is based on the E3 Series Shinkansen
, and includes passenger seating in the intermediate car. Maximum speed is 270 km/h on Shinkansen lines operating under 25 kV AC (60 Hz), and 130 km/h on conventional lines operating under 20 kV AC (60 Hz) or 1,500 V DC.
The train is formed as follows:
The end cars are 23,075 mm long, and the intermediate car is 20,500 mm long.
From December 2007, test-running commenced on conventional tracks between Kokura Works and Nishi-Kokura Station
.
From June 2009, the train underwent test-running between the Kyushu Shinkansen
and conventional narrow gauge tracks, operating at speeds of up to 270 km/h on shinkansen tracks.
In 2011, the train was fitted with new lighter weight "E" bogies to improve stability and ride comfort when negotiating curves or points with radii of less than 600 m. These replaced the previous "D" bogie design. Late night test running is scheduled to take place at speeds of up to 130 km/h on the Yosan Line
from August 2011, with the train based at Tadotsu. Endurance testing is then scheduled from October 2011 on the Yosan Line between and to accumulate approximately 100,000 km.
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
Shinkansen
Shinkansen
The , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
network, and the narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
provincial network.
Two three-car "GCT" electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
trains have been built for testing. The first train was built in 1998 and withdrawn in 2006. A second train was built in 2006, and, as of August 2011, is still undergoing testing.
First train (1998–2006)
The first GCT train was completed in October 1998. It was designed to be able to run at a maximum speed of over 300 km/h on Shinkansen lines, and at over 130 km/h on conventional narrow-gauge lines under a catenary voltage of 25 kV AC (50/60 Hz), 20 kV AC (50/60 Hz), or 1,500 V DC.The train was formed as follows:
- GCT01-1： (M'c1) built by Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesKawasaki Heavy Industriesis an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
- GCT01-2： (M1) built by Kinki SharyoKinki Sharyois an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
- GCT01-3： (M'c2) built by Tokyu Car CorporationTokyu Car Corporationis a manufacturer of heavy rail cars in Japan. The company is based in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan, and a member of Tokyu Group. Tokyu Car manufactures rail vehicles not only for Tokyu Corporation but for other Japanese operators, including various Japan Railways Group companies and...
After preparation at the Railway Technical Research Institute (RTRI) in Kokubunji, Tokyo
Kokubunji, Tokyo
is a city in Tokyo, Japan.As of 1 June 2008, the city has an estimated population of 117,335 . The total area is 11.48 km²...
, the train was moved to JR West tracks in January 1999 for testing on the Sanin Line at speeds of up to 100 km/h. From April 1999, the train was shipped to the Transportation Technology Center
Transportation Technology Center
The Transportation Technology Center, or TTC, is a railroad testing and training facility located northeast of Pueblo, Colorado. It originated as the Department of Transportation's High Speed Ground Test Center as a site to test several hovertrain concepts...
in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for an extended period of high-speed endurance running until January 2001. Here, it recorded a maximum speed of 246 km/h and ran a total distance of approximately 600,000 km, with approximately 2,000 axle gauge changing cycles.
From May to June 2003, the train was tested for the first time in Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, running late at night on the Yosan Line
Yosan Line
The is a railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, operated by the Shikoku Railway Company . It runs along the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu and Matsuyama , continuing on to Uwajima...
between Sakaide Station and Matsuyama Station
Matsuyama Station
Matsuyama Station is the name of multiple train stations in Japan.* Matsuyama Station - in Ehime Prefecture* Matsuyama Station - in Fukuoka Prefecture...
.
Testing ended in 2006, after which the train was stored at JR Kyushu's Kokura
Kokura
is an ancient castle town and the center of Kitakyūshū, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshū and Kyūshū. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR Kyūshū and an important part of the...
Works. In April 2007, the train was moved to storage at JR Shikoku's Tadotsu Works.
Second train (1998–2007)
Initially scheduled to be completed in 2004, the second train was delivered in 2006, starting test running based at JR Shikoku's Tadotsu Works. In March 2007, the train was shipped from the RTRI in Kokubunji to Kokura Works, where it was shown off to the press in May 2007.This train is based on the E3 Series Shinkansen
E3 Series Shinkansen
The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services which commenced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with opening of the new Akita Shinkansen 'mini-shinkansen' line, a regular narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita upgraded to . Later versions of the E3 series were also...
, and includes passenger seating in the intermediate car. Maximum speed is 270 km/h on Shinkansen lines operating under 25 kV AC (60 Hz), and 130 km/h on conventional lines operating under 20 kV AC (60 Hz) or 1,500 V DC.
The train is formed as follows:
- GCT01-201： (Mc3) with pantograph
- GCT01-202： (M2) with 36 seats, tilting mechanism and pantograph
- GCT01-203： (Mc4)
The end cars are 23,075 mm long, and the intermediate car is 20,500 mm long.
From December 2007, test-running commenced on conventional tracks between Kokura Works and Nishi-Kokura Station
Nishi-Kokura Station
is a railway station on the Kagoshima Main Line and Nippō Main Line operated by Kyūshū Railway Company in Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyūshū, Japan.-External links:...
.
From June 2009, the train underwent test-running between the Kyushu Shinkansen
Kyushu Shinkansen
The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
and conventional narrow gauge tracks, operating at speeds of up to 270 km/h on shinkansen tracks.
In 2011, the train was fitted with new lighter weight "E" bogies to improve stability and ride comfort when negotiating curves or points with radii of less than 600 m. These replaced the previous "D" bogie design. Late night test running is scheduled to take place at speeds of up to 130 km/h on the Yosan Line
Yosan Line
The is a railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, operated by the Shikoku Railway Company . It runs along the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu and Matsuyama , continuing on to Uwajima...
from August 2011, with the train based at Tadotsu. Endurance testing is then scheduled from October 2011 on the Yosan Line between and to accumulate approximately 100,000 km.
See also
- Mini-shinkansenMini-shinkansenis the name given to the concept of converting narrow gauge railway lines to standard gauge for use by Shinkansen train services in Japan. Two mini-shinkansen routes have been constructed: the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen.-Concept:...
, the concept of converting narrow-gauge lines to standard gauge or dual gauge for use by Shinkansen trains - Super TokkyūSuper Tokkyuis the name given to the concept of building new high-speed narrow gauge railway lines in Japan to extend the shinkansen network of high-speed lines.-Concept:...
, the concept of building narrow-gauge lines to Shinkansen standards - Train on TrainTrain on Trainis the name given to the concept being developed by Hokkaido Railway Company in Japan as a means of transporting freight at higher speeds through the undersea Seikan Tunnel when Hokkaido Shinkansen high-speed passenger services through the tunnel commence in 2015.-Overview:When the Hokkaido...
, an experimental concept for conveying narrow-gauge container wagons on Shinkansen tracks through the Seikan TunnelSeikan TunnelThe Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...