Noise Measurement Results of Shinkansen High-Speed Test Train (FASTECH360S,Z)

Summary

East Japan Railway Company has developed the high-speed test train “FASTECH360” for future speed-increase of the Shinkansen. Noise reduction is one of the most important issues to be resolved in such a case. The test train equips several countermeasures to reduce noise such as low-noise pantograph, pantograph noise insulation plates, sound absorbing panels. Moreover, the car body has been made as smooth as possible to reduce aerodynamic noise. Snow plow covers, circumferential bellows, smoothed doors on the drever’s cab are some of the examples of the smoother surface. As a result of running tests up to 360km/h, it is confirmed that the noise from the test trains at a speed of approximately 330km/h is as almost equal to that of present commercial trains at a speed of 275km/h (at a distance of 25m from the track).