Class 962 Shinkansen

Class 962
In service	1979–2003
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki HI, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car
Constructed	1979
Number built	6 vehicles
Number in service	0
Number preserved	0
Formation	6 cars
Operator(s)	JNR
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Car length	25,000 mm (82 ft 0 in)[1]
Width	3,380 mm (11 ft 1 in)
Doors	2 sliding doors per side
Maximum speed	210 km/h (130 mph)[1]
Traction system	MT201X (230 kW or 310 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC, 50/60 Hz
Current collection method	Overhead catenary
Bogies	DT9019 (cars 1-4), DT9020 (cars 5-6)
Safety system(s)	ATC-2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in)

The Class 962 (962形) was a six-car Japanese Shinkansen train built in 1979 as the prototype for the new (200 series) trains to be operated on the Tōhoku Shinkansen and Jōetsu Shinkansen routes.^[2]

Design

The Class 962 trainset incorporated technology developed in the earlier Class 951 and Class 961 set, with extensive snow-proofing features to cope with revenue service in the wintry areas served by the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen routes.^[1] The design limited the maximum axle load to 16.3 tonnes.^[2]

Bogie shrouds and diaphragms between cars were fitted to this set as a noise reduction measure, but these features were not used on the 200 series design due to the complications this added to maintenance.^[2] The DT9019 and DT9020 bogies were derived from the DT200A design used on the earlier 0 series trains.^[1]

Internally, only cars 1 and 4 were fitted out with passenger seating. The seating in car 1 included 3+2 abreast standard-class seating arranged with seat pitches of 1,000 mm (39.4 in) and 970 mm (38.2 in), 2+2 abreast standard-class seating with a seat pitch of 1,000 mm (39.4 in), and 2+2 abreast Green class (first class) seating with a seat pitch of 1,160 mm (45.7 in). Car 4 featured 3+2 abreast seating using the earlier 0 series flip-over style seats with a seat pitch of 970 mm (38.2 in) and new reclining non-rotating seats also with a pitch of 970 mm (38.2 in). The latter were used on production 200 series trains with increased seat pitch.^[2]

Formation

The 6-car set was formed as follows.^[3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Designation	Mc	M'	M	M'	M	M'c
Numbering	962-1	962-2	962-3	962-4	962-5	962-6
Manufacturer	Hitachi	Kinki Sharyo	Tokyu Car	Nippon Sharyo	Kawasaki HI	Kawasaki HI

Cars 2, 4, and 6 were equipped with scissors type pantographs.^[3]

History

Class 925-10 "Doctor Yellow" set S2, converted from the former Class 962 trainset, at Takasaki in September 2002

The train was unveiled on 22 February 1979. Test running on the Tōhoku Shinkansen test track at Oyama continued until June 1980. After this, the train was used for test running on the Jōetsu Shinkansen prior to the opening of the line.^[2]

From January 1983, the train was converted to become the 7-car Class 925-10 "Doctor Yellow" track and overhead line inspection train S2 with the insertion of track condition recording car 921-41 built by Tokyu Car Corporation in November 1980.^[3] This train was withdrawn on 25 January 2003.^[2]

References

1. Hara, Jun (September 1982). "開業をささえた車両群の概要" [Overview of Rolling Stock Behind the Opening]. Railway Journal. Japan: Tetsudō Journal. 16 (187): 52–61.
2. プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. pp. 48–51. OCLC 170056962.
3. 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011]. Japan: JRR. March 2011. pp. 94–96. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.