View source for Physics:L0 Series

{{short description|Japanese maglev train type}}
{{Infobox train
| name = L0 Series
| image = L0-950.jpg
| imagealt = 
| caption = A test run of the Improved L0 Series, August 2020
| service = 
| manufacturer = [[Company:Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]], Nippon Sharyo, [[Company:Hitachi#Hitachi Rail|Hitachi Rail]]
| factory = 
| family = 
| replaced = 
| yearconstruction = 2011–
| yearservice = 2011<br />2020 (improved)<br />2027 (passenger service) 
| refurbishment = 
| yearscrapped = 
| numberconstruction = 
| numberbuilt = 14 vehicles
| numberservice = 12 vehicles (1 set)
| numberpreserved = 
| numberscrapped = 
| formation = '''Test:''' 5–12 cars<br />'''Operation:''' 16 cars
| fleetnumbers = 
| capacity = End cars: 24<br />Intermediate cars: 68 
| operator = JR Central
| depots = 
| lines = Current: Yamanashi test track<br />Future: Chūō Shinkansen
| carbody = 
| trainlength = 299{{nbsp}}m (12-car formation) 
| carlength = {{convert|28|m|ft|abbr=on}} (end cars)<br />{{convert|24.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} (intermediate cars)
| width = {{convert|2.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="JR Central">{{cite web |title=L0 design changes |url=http://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000009381.pdf |website=jr-central.co.jp |publisher=JR Central |access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref>
| height = {{convert|3.1|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="JR Central" />
| floorheight = 
| platformheight = 
| doors = 2 × 1 per car
| art-sections = 
| maxspeed = '''Design:''' {{convert|550|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<br />'''Record:''' {{convert|603|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}<br />'''Operational:''' {{convert|500|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| weight = 
| acceleration = 
| deceleration = 
| traction = 
| poweroutput = 
| traction motors = 
| aux = 
| powersupply = '''L0 series:''' gas turbine-electric<ref name=":0" /><br />'''Improved L0 series:''' unknown
| hvac = 
| electricsystem = 33 kV AC
| collectionmethod = '''L0 series:''' none<br />'''Improved L0 series:''' [[Physics:Electromagnetic induction|induction]] ([[Physics:Wireless power transfer|wireless power transfer]])
| bogies = 
| brakes = 
| safety = 
| coupling = 
| multipleworking = 
| gauge = [[Physics:SCMaglev|SCMaglev]] guideway
}}

The {{Nihongo|'''L0 Series'''|{{ruby-ja|L0|エルゼロ}}系|Eru-zero-kei|"L zero series"|lead=yes}}<ref name="sannichi20140320">{{cite web |url= http://www.sannichi.co.jp/linear/news/2014/03/20/16.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140325091338/http://www.sannichi.co.jp/linear/news/2014/03/20/16.html|url-status=dead|archive-date= 25 March 2014|script-title=ja:リニア試乗１１月再開 ＪＲ東海　有料２５００円程度で|trans-title=JR Central to resume maglev rides – costing around 2,500 yen|date= 20 March 2014|work= The Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun – Web Edition|publisher= The Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 25 March 2014}}</ref> is a high-speed [[Physics:Maglev|maglev]] train that the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) is developing and testing. JR Central plans to use the L0 series on the Chūō Shinkansen railway line between [[Place:Tokyo|Tokyo]] and {{wipe|Osaka}}, which is under construction.

The L0 series uses the Japanese-designed [[Physics:SCMaglev|SCMaglev]] system. [[Company:Mitsubishi Heavy Industries|Mitsubishi Heavy Industries]] and Nippon Sharyo, a subsidiary of JR Central, are building fourteen pre-production vehicles.<ref name="sankei20101221">{{cite web |url= http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20101221-00000576-san-bus_all|script-title=ja:リニア新車両は三菱重工と日本車輌製造に内定　ＪＲ東海社長|trans-title=Maglev vehicles to be built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Sharyo – JR Central President|date= 21 December 2010 |publisher= Sankei Shimbun|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101223230138/http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20101221-00000576-san-bus_all|archive-date= 23 December 2010|access-date= 20 July 2013}}</ref>

A seven-car train set a land speed record for rail vehicles of {{Convert|603|km/h|abbr=on}} on 21 April 2015.<ref name="guardian20150421" /> The trains are planned to run at a maximum speed of {{Convert|500|km/h|mph|abbr=on}},<ref name="bloomberg2013">{{cite web |url= http://www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/123-MS4JM56K50Y001.html |script-title=ja: ＪＲ東海：リニア時速500キロ、試験再開－通勤圏拡大で激変も |trans-title=JR Central: Maglev testing at 500&nbsp;km/h resumes – Expanded commuter area to create major upheavals|date= 29 August 2013|work= Bloomberg|publisher= Bloomberg LP|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 12 February 2015}}</ref> offering journey times of 40 minutes between Tokyo (Shinagawa Station) and {{STN|Nagoya}}, and 1 hour 7 minutes between Tokyo and Osaka.<ref name="Onigiri">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyonigiri.com/2010/11/jr-tokai-unveils-a-model-for-the-new-high-speed-maglev-train-l0/|title=JR Tokai unveils a model for the new high-speed maglev train 'L0' |work= Daily Onigiri|publisher= DailyOnigiri.com|date=4 November 2010|access-date= 17 January 2013}}</ref>

==Specifications==
The end cars of L0 series trainsets are {{convert|28|m|ft|sp=us}} long and carry 24 passengers. The nose extends {{convert|15|m|ft|sp=us}} for better aerodynamics and reduced noise in tunnels.<ref name=Onigiri /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Iida |first1=Masanobu |last2=Kikuchi |first2=Katsuhiro |last3=Fukuda |first3=Takashi |title=Analysis and Experiment of Compression Wave Generated by Train Entering Tunnel Entrance Hood |journal=JSME International Journal Series B Fluids and Thermal Engineering |date=2006 |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=761–770 |doi=10.1299/jsmeb.49.761|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the vehicle {{!}} SCMAGLEV {{!}} Central Japan Railway Company |url=https://scmaglev.jr-central-global.com/about/design/ |website=scmaglev.jr-central-global.com |publisher=JR Central |access-date=15 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Intermediate cars are {{convert|24.3|m|ft|sp=us}} long and carry 68 passengers each, which totals a 299 m long and 728 passengers train. Each row is four seats wide, one less than JR Central [[Engineering:Shinkansen|shinkansen]] trains. The cars are more box-shaped than earlier models to allow for more interior space.<ref name=Asashi /> Cars are painted white and blue. During normal operation, the train is expected to operate at a maximum speed of {{Convert|500|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name="bloomberg2013"/>

The train does not require a driver, but does have a camera at the front of both end cars in order to allow for remote operation, in case the automated systems fail. The camera is more apparent on the revised end cars, introduced in 2020. It is moved to a higher position, and increased in size.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://trafficnews.jp/post/82437|script-title=ja:山梨リニア実験線に改良型試験車両 2020年春に完成へ|website=乗りものニュース|language=ja|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref>

The superconducting magnets in the bogies are built by [[Company:Toshiba|Toshiba]] and [[Company:Mitsubishi Electric|Mitsubishi Electric]]. The cars are built by Nippon Sharyo, with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries also having built some in the past. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries stopped producing cars in 2017 after car manufacturing cost disagreements with JR central and the [[Engineering:Mitsubishi SpaceJet|Mitsubishi SpaceJet]]'s spiralling development costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Mitsubishi-Heavy-to-back-out-of-maglev-train-project|title=Mitsubishi Heavy to back out of maglev train project|website=Nikkei Asian Review}}</ref> The bogies are arranged in a Jacobs bogie configuration.

== Planned operations ==

=== Chuo Shinkansen ===
Construction on the Chuo Shinkansen line on which the train is intended to run began in December 2014. The first section to Nagoya is expected to be completed in 2027. That section will be approximately 85% tunnels with an estimated cost of ¥5.5{{nbsp}}trillion (US$46.5{{nbsp}}billion). The relatively high cost is in large part due to the many tunnels.<ref name="RailJournal" /><ref name="Nikkei">{{Cite news|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Japanese-rail-company-eyes-exports-to-cover-maglev-costs|title=Japanese rail company eyes exports to cover maglev costs|last=Ichihara|first=Tomohiro|date=22 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015|agency=Nikkei}}</ref>

The complete line to Osaka is estimated to cost ¥9{{nbsp}}trillion ($74.7{{nbsp}}billion), and was expected to be completed by 2045, after an eight-year pause in construction to recuperate costs. However, after receiving a ¥3{{nbsp}}trillion ($28{{nbsp}}billion) loan from the Japanese government, JR Central moved the project forward. It now expects to be able to open the full line as early as 2037, with construction beginning immediately after completion of the Tokyo–Nagoya section.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/japan-economy-rail-idUSL4N1A5381|title=Japan PM's maglev decision reflects political calculus over economics|date=21 July 2016|work=Reuters|access-date=14 March 2019|language=en}}</ref>

=== Northeast Maglev ===
A route from [[Place:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]] to Baltimore, eventually extending all the way to {{wipe|New York City}} has received political support in the United States. JR Central chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai spoke with U.S. President [[Biography:Barack Obama|Barack Obama]] about the L0 series during Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 28 April 2015 visit.

In August 2017, development partner Mitsubishi announced that talks had "stalled" because of "a lack of clarity on the Trump administration's stance on high-speed rail".<ref name="exports">{{cite news|url=http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Japanese-rail-company-eyes-exports-to-cover-maglev-costs|title=Japanese rail company eyes exports to cover maglev costs|date=22 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015|agency=Nikkei}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Mitsubishi-Heavy-to-back-out-of-maglev-train-project|title=Mitsubishi Heavy to back out of maglev train project|date=10 August 2017|work=Nikkei Asian Review|language=en}}</ref>

In March 2019, Northeast Maglev project director David Henley stated in an interview that they expect to have a Record of Decision for the D.C.–Baltimore section by August 2020, and to begin construction later that same year, or in early 2021. According to Henley, this would allow operations to begin in 2027–28, allowing for a construction period of 7 years.<ref>{{Citation|last=American Rail Club|title=Fastest Train Being Built in America! – NYC to DC in 60 Minutes|date=9 March 2019|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Svycn25Wjw&t=947|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:JR Central SCMaglev L0 Series Shinkansen 201408081002.jpg|thumbnail|The first L0 series undergoing test-running in August 2014]]

=== L0 series ===
The first L0 series vehicle was delivered to the [[Physics:SCMaglev#Yamanashi Maglev Test Line|Yamanashi Maglev Test Line]] and unveiled to the press in November 2012.<ref name="sankei20121122">{{cite web |url= http://www.sankeibiz.jp/business/news/121122/bsd1211221022009-n1.htm|script-title=ja:リニア新型車両「Ｌ０系」を初公開　ＪＲ東海が山梨の実験線に搬入|trans-title=New L0 series maglev car unveiled, delivered to Yamanashi Test Track|date=  22 November 2012|work= Sankei Biz|publisher= Sankei Digital Inc.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 22 November 2012}}</ref> The first five vehicles were linked up and placed on the guideway in June 2013.<ref name=Asashi>[http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/technology/AJ201306030104 "Prototype of high-speed maglev train shown to public"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730145501/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/technology/AJ201306030104 |date=30 July 2013 }}. Asahi Shimbun, 3 June 2013.</ref>

The first five-car train began test-running at the {{Convert|42.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} Yamanashi Maglev Test Line in June 2013, following completion of extension and upgrade work at the facility, earlier than the originally scheduled September date.<ref name="chunichi20130724">{{cite web |url= http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2013072490222753.html|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130729175112/http://www.chunichi.co.jp/s/article/2013072490222753.html|url-status= dead|archive-date= 29 July 2013|script-title=ja:７月中にも最高時速５００キロに　新型車両「Ｌ０系」|trans-title=New L0 series trains to reach 500&nbsp;km/h during July|date= 24 July 2013|work= Chunichi Web|publisher= The Chunichi Shimbun|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 30 July 2013}}</ref> The maximum speed of test runs was gradually increased, reaching 500&nbsp;km/h by the end of July 2013.<ref name="chunichi20130724"/>

The five-car train was lengthened to seven cars in September 2013, and test-running as a 12-car formation commenced on 25 June 2014.<ref name="sannichi20140625">{{cite web | url=http://www.sannichi.co.jp/local/news/2014/06/25/10.html | script-title=ja:リニア、きょうからＬ０系試験　１２両編成で走行 | trans-title=Maglev L0 to start testing today as 12-car formation | work=The Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun – Web Edition | publisher=The Yamanashi Nichinichi Shimbun | date=25 June 2014 | access-date=8 August 2014 | language=ja | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810200122/http://www.sannichi.co.jp/local/news/2014/06/25/10.html | archive-date=10 August 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The train was reverted to a 7-car formation later in 2014,<ref name="sannichi20140625"/> and used for public preview rides starting in November.<ref name="ajw20141113">{{cite web|url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201411130073 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116175936/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ201411130073 |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2014 |title=Lucky riders whoosh along at 500&nbsp;km/h on maglev test run for the public |date=13 November 2014 |work=The Asahi Shimbun Asahi & Japan Watch |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company |location=Japan |access-date=17 April 2015 }}</ref>

A series of endurance and speed tests was carried out on the {{Convert|42.8|km|mi|abbr=on}} test rail in April 2015 to examine the reliability and durability of the L0 after repeated high speed usage. Several speed and distance records were set in the process.<ref name="RG">{{cite news|title=Japanese maglev testing tops 600&nbsp;km/h|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/japanese-maglev-testing-tops-600-kmh.html|access-date=22 April 2015|work=Railway Gazette|date=21 April 2015}}</ref>

After April 2015, the train returned to being used for public preview rides.

=== Improved L0 Series ===
[[File:L0-950.jpg|thumbnail|Improved L0-series in Fuefuki, 29 August 2020]]
The L0 series are planned to be replaced with a revised model starting May 2020 (named the "Improved L0 series"). This will be the first L0 series to receive power from the guideway through induction. Currently, on-board power is provided by a small gas generator in each end car. The new end cars also feature a relocated and enlarged camera, and are more aerodynamic thanks to the removal of the exhaust vent necessary for the generator. Only one end car will be replaced by 2020, as well as one intermediate car. This means that the train will consist of a combination of revised and original cars for a period of time, and will be able to generate electricity with its onboard generator while testing the new induction system.<ref name=":0" />

The new cars were completed in March 2020. While presenting the new end car to the press, lead designer Motoaki Terai stated that this model represents the completion of around 80–90% of the design goals for the final train.<ref>{{cite news |title=超電導リニアL0系 スマホ同様に電気を得る「誘導集電」全面対応の改良型試験車が登場 |url=https://trafficnews.jp/post/94844/2 |access-date=27 March 2020 |work=乗りものニュース |language=ja}}</ref>

== Variants ==
'''L0 Series''': 1 × 12-car set owned by JR Central, introduced in 2011 and planned to be converted to the Improved L0 series starting in June 2020.

'''Improved L0 Series:'''  1 × 12-car set planned to be gradually upgraded from L0 series starting June 2020. Two replacement cars have been completed as of April 2020.

== Records ==

===Speed records===
* 16 April 2015: Fastest manned train in the world ({{Convert|590|km/h|abbr=on}})
* 21 April 2015: Fastest manned train in the world ({{Convert|603|km/h|abbr=on}})

On 16 April 2015, a manned seven-car L0 series trainset reached a speed of {{Convert|590|km/h|abbr=on}}, breaking the previous world record of {{Convert|581|km/h|abbr=on}} set by a Japanese MLX01 maglev trainset in December 2003. The speed of 590&nbsp;km/h was sustained for a period of 19 seconds.<ref name="yomiuri20150416">{{cite web|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20150416-OYT1T50132.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416230147/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20150416-OYT1T50132.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 April 2015 |script-title=ja: リニア「Ｌ０系」、世界最高の５９０キロ記録 |trans-title=L0 series maglev sets world speed record of 590&nbsp;km/h |date=16 April 2015 |work=Yomiuri Online |publisher=The Yomiuri Shimbunl |location=Japan |language=ja |access-date=17 April 2015 }}</ref> This speed record was broken again on 21 April 2015, when a manned seven-car set recorded a top speed of {{Convert|603|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="guardian20150421" /> The train hit its top speed at 10:48 am, about 4 minutes into the run. With 49 JR Central employees on board, the train sustained the speed for 10.8 seconds, travelling {{convert|1.8|km|sp=us}} during that time.<ref name="guardian20150421">{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/21/japans-maglev-train-notches-up-new-world-speed-record-in-test-run|title= Japan's maglev train breaks world speed record with 600&nbsp;km/h test run |date= 21 April 2015|work= The Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media Limited|location= United Kingdom|access-date= 21 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=exports />

===Distance records===
* 10 April 2015: Longest distance travelled in one day ({{Convert|3904|km|abbr=on}}), breaking the previous record ({{Convert|2876|km|abbr=on}}) set in 2003.
* 14 April 2015: Longest distance travelled in one day ({{Convert|4064|km|abbr=on}}).<ref name=RailJournal>{{cite news|title=Japan breaks maglev speed record|date=17 April 2015|work=International Railway Journal|author= Keith Barrow|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/japan-breaks-maglev-speed-record.html?channel=523|access-date=22 April 2015}}</ref><ref name="jrcentral20150416">{{cite press release|url= http://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000026425.pdf|script-title=ja: 「山梨リニア実験線 長距離走行試験」の結果等について|trans-title=Results of distance trials at Yamanashi Maglev Test Track|date= 16 April 2015|publisher= Central Japan Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 17 April 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* High-speed rail
* Land speed record for rail vehicles
* [[Engineering:Shinkansen|Shinkansen]]
* [[Physics:Transrapid|Transrapid]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000009380.pdf JR Central press release (Part 1) (26 October 2010)] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://jr-central.co.jp/news/release/_pdf/000009381.pdf JR Central press release (Part 2) (26 October 2010)] {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.scmaglev.com SCMAGLEV Website]

{{Maglev}}

[[Category:Experimental and prototype high-speed trains]]

{{Sourceattribution|L0 Series|1}}